Back to School: 10 Simple Ways to Start the New School Year on the Right Foot
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The summer holidays always seem to disappear far too quickly. One minute you're switching off the alarm clock, and the next you're labelling trays, organising exercise books and wondering how it's September already!
The start of a new school year can be exciting, but there's also a lot to think about. New children, new routines, new expectations and a classroom that somehow needs to be ready for all of it.
So, whether you're welcoming a brand-new class or returning to familiar faces, here are 10 simple ways to make those first few weeks a little calmer, happier and easier.
1. Don't Try to Do Everything on Day One
It's tempting to want your classroom, displays, routines and planning completely sorted before the children arrive.
But not everything has to be perfect.
Prioritise the things that will make the biggest difference to the children: a welcoming classroom, clear routines and a teacher who's ready to greet them.
That perfectly colour-coordinated display can wait!
2. Spend Time Getting to Know Your Class
The curriculum isn't going anywhere.
Those first few days are a valuable opportunity to find out what makes your new class tick.
Try simple activities such as:
- an All About Me sheet
- a class scavenger hunt
- "Would You Rather?" questions
- two truths and a lie
- creating class rules together
- sharing favourite books, hobbies or subjects
These activities might seem simple, but they can tell you a surprising amount about the children in your class. See our blog on '10 Easy Activities to Help a New Class Settle In' - includes FREE DOWNLOAD pack.
3. Establish Routines Early
Where do bags go? What happens when children enter the classroom? Where do they put completed work? What should they do when they've finished an activity?
The clearer these routines are at the beginning of the year, the less time you'll spend repeating instructions later.
Practise them. Then practise them again.
It might feel repetitive in September, but you'll thank yourself in November!
4. Keep the First Week's Lessons Simple
The first week doesn't need to contain your most ambitious lessons of the year.
Children are adjusting to a new classroom, new expectations and possibly even a new Key Stage. You're also getting to know their abilities, personalities and working habits.
Simple, purposeful activities can work brilliantly.
Think:
quick arithmetic challenges • short writing tasks • reading activities • team challenges • retrieval games • creative activities
They give you a chance to observe the children without putting too much pressure on anyone.
5. Find Out What They Remember
Before racing into new curriculum content, spend some time discovering what has stuck from last year.
Low-pressure retrieval activities can help you identify gaps without making the first week feel like a series of tests.
Try five-minute maths starters, spelling challenges, quick quizzes or "What do you remember about...?" activities.
They'll give you useful information for your planning too.
6. Make Time for Reading
Reading is one of the easiest ways to bring a new class together.
Choose a brilliant class book and make reading aloud part of your routine from the beginning.
It gives everyone a chance to stop, listen and enjoy a story together – while helping you establish a positive reading culture in your classroom.
And on particularly hectic afternoons, ten minutes with a good book can be exactly what everyone needs!
7. Build Your Classroom Together
You don't need every display completed before the children arrive.
In fact, leaving some space can make your classroom feel more like their classroom.
Create displays from children's first pieces of writing, artwork or topic work. You could also create a class charter, reading recommendations board or "Things We're Proud Of" display together.
A classroom that develops with the children can feel much more meaningful than one that's completely finished before they've even walked through the door.
8. Have a Few No-Prep Activities Ready
There will inevitably be moments when something finishes much earlier than expected.
Having a handful of quick activities ready can be a lifesaver.
Keep a bank of:
- mental maths questions
- vocabulary challenges
- riddles
- reading tasks
- handwriting activities
- quick writing prompts
- times-table challenges
- spelling games
Ten-minute activities are particularly useful for those awkward gaps before assembly, break or home time.
9. Remember That Relationships Come First
Children might not remember the worksheet they completed on the first Tuesday of September.
They will remember how their new classroom made them feel.
A smile at the door, remembering something they told you yesterday, noticing when they're struggling or celebrating a small success can make an enormous difference.
Creating a classroom where children feel safe, valued and ready to learn is one of the most important things you can achieve in those first few weeks.
10. Give Yourself Time to Settle In Too
It's not only the children who need time to adjust.
The first few weeks of the school year can be exhausting. You're learning names, establishing routines, assessing starting points, planning lessons, answering questions and trying to remember approximately 847 other things at the same time.
You don't have to have everything figured out immediately.
Some routines will work. Others will need changing. Some lessons will go brilliantly. Others… perhaps won't!
That's all part of settling into a new school year.
Here's to a Brilliant New School Year
September brings fresh exercise books, freshly sharpened pencils and a whole classroom full of possibilities.
Take those first few weeks one day at a time, keep things simple where you can and remember that creating a happy, settled classroom is an achievement in itself.
Here's to a positive, productive and enjoyable new school year – for you and your pupils.
From everyone at HeadStart Primary, we wish all teachers, teaching assistants, school staff and pupils a very happy start to the new academic year. You've got this!
