Let's start with the statutory requirements. You have completed your first year and should have a record of the statutory records and data which need to go in to the Department for Education and when. Make sure that these dates are now on a timeline/calendar for the coming year so that you can plan for this and so that nothing is rushed, because that is when mistakes are made. If you are unsure of these dates, visit www.gov.uk/government/collections/mandatory-and-useful-timelines-information-for-schools
To complete the year is also to prepare for the next year, allowing you to have a well-deserved break over the summer. I found it helpful to have a checklist and to allocate tasks and deadlines for completion. Some of the things you may want to address prior to the end of term include:
- The new School Improvement Plan and making sure all staff know what their role is within this so that they have time to plan/prepare.
- Re-looking at policy documents in the light of change nationally and within the school.
- New job descriptions for the coming year.
- Updating the Staff Handbook, Staff Induction Booklet and School Brochure.
- Creating a list of staff meeting and training sessions so that everyone knows what the focus is for the autumn term and how it ties in with the School Improvement Plan.
- Assembly rotas, first aid rotas, playground duty timetables can be delegated to senior staff to create.
- All data on assessments and pupils leaving, together with their leaving date and destinations, need to be in the system in a timely manner so that they can be used to report effectively.
- Early years new starters need to be put onto the system and class lists created for the new academic year.
- Class lists and family links lists need to be updated.
- New registers need to be created (online or as hard copies), medical conditions noted and appropriate staff trained for the coming year if they have a child with specific medical needs.
- A final newsletter should round up the year for parents with successes highlighted and aspirations for the new year clearly outlined.
- Classroom management is also critical at the end of a year. Try not to have visitors for the last two weeks of the term – this gives the team time to release teaching assistants to do some of the administration and preparation of materials which will help teachers to start the new year calmly.
Finally if you can spare a couple of days, set them aside to give every member of the team 15 minutes. This is about checking that they have enjoyed the year and thanking them for all they have done. Sometimes this conversation also highlights things which help you to support them to be even more effective in their role in the coming year – and without doubt they all appreciate the personal touch. Enjoy your summer!
- Brenda Bigland CBE is an education consultant, trainer and coach and a former primary school headteacher. Visit www.askbrenda.co.uk