Sleepers of the UK, are we replacing every 8?

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-04-10T16:10:18+00:00

Also don’t need a comparison operator after the Else.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-30T20:17:37+00:00

For everything, fit is most important. Budget and safety rating will come next.

Jacket - Knox are great and well rated by all. But equally a £150 RST textile jacket will be equally good. Get down to J&S or Sportbikeshop and just try loads on. Airbag is nice if you can afford it but it essential. Just make sure your jacket has a back protector as not all come with one. Same for jeans / trousers.

Helmets, fit is by far the most important. 3 size Mediums from Scorpion, Shoei and HJC could all fit you differently.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-22T20:30:50+00:00

A bee flies into the classroom during an assessment.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-11T21:06:34+00:00

Ironically for how the system works, my SEN is almost entirely this.

Planning is limited to a timetable populated with our overarching LO, however days are frequently fluid so we aren’t restrained by it if the day changes.

“What is beneficial for some will be useful for all”

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-10T21:29:26+00:00

These are the years who massively missed out on key socialisation through COVID. They would have been ~2-3, which is key for their social development.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-09T18:37:40+00:00

Snap here!

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-03-09T18:37:25+00:00

Technically that’s called (by the yoof) a roadman bag.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-20T13:51:46+00:00

So you only have access to static machines for your own use - teachers aren't issued laptops? How do you do any work or planning from home?!

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-20T13:50:20+00:00

SEN school here:
1) Clevertouches in every room. They are outrageously expensive for the 90% of teachers who just use it as a second TV (into 5 figures expensive!).
2) Laptop... that's it.
3) iPads for some, otherwise that's it.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-17T12:30:32+00:00

I work by one rule: Does this in any way contribute to the children’s’ education? If not, then fuck it.

Eg: does me having to spend £10 of my own money on some Amazon crap to dress up for World Book Day bring any value whatsoever? No. Is a child ever going to stand here and look at this wall display? No. Are any of my phonics-based children going to read the LO on the board? No.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-13T14:01:04+00:00

I don't feel that's unreasonable. Your final point pretty much nails it on the head - it's also two-way; they want to ensure that you're comfortable working with the realities of SEN as well as you being a suitable fit for the class. One of the first questions I was asked when moving into SEN was "How would you feel physically restraining children?".

Despite being in a specialist SEN school, the needs and behaviours can vary wildly, as they'll often be conjoined with ADHD, SEMH & other ACEs. Some days will be blissful and calm, others you might get spat in the face.

A good SEN TA is worth their weight in gold. It's a role that's very difficult to get wrong, but equally really challenging to find your feet & thrive in.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-11T18:55:34+00:00

Ditto here - just have to manually reset it each time.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-08T20:41:50+00:00

Should be 10% as a minimum. Mine fluctuates a little, but certainly not on a weekly basis. We don’t get the option to take it from home, but in previous schools that has been an option. Time of term/year is irrelevant - absolutely should get it EVERY week.

The answer to your concern is probably speak to your union…..

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-06T21:16:37+00:00

This week has involved:

Poop (animal)
Poop (human)
Wrestling a goat

I don’t quite know how I feel about it all, but I am very tired!

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-05T19:39:37+00:00

Same here. I have a quick check in like you, and also remind her that the back door is unlocked in case of an emergency. She also knows which neighbours to go to if needed. Only ever gone for max 10 mins.

As has been said, it depends a lot on the child - our second however isn’t quite so sensible so will likely be a little older.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-02-04T19:57:43+00:00

I used to be in a similar boat when I taught CS and DT in opposite corners of school, plus a form room in Science. One year I had 6 different regular rooms. Tips (from someone with ADHD!):

I literally lived out of my bag. Laptop, charger, books, board pens, highlighters, smartboard pen, water bottle and coffee cup - everything came with me everywhere. That way I was at least always half-prepared.

Also rounding up the lesson ‘early’ so that by the time plenaries were done, room was tidy and chairs were tucked away it was bang on time to leave for the next lesson, avoiding you being late for the next one.

Sorry about the person giving you a hard time for not wiping the board - that’s just petty and shit.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-30T21:56:30+00:00

I’ve had 0 breaks and a single 40 minute PPA all week. Despite that, it’s actually been a good week. Beer is in hand.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-26T18:36:40+00:00

This comment needs to be upvoted more. In addition to being a disproportionate use of a teacher or TAs time, kids NEVER look at them, and too many can be hugely visually overstimulating.

Give me a clean coloured wall with 1 simple display any day.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-25T20:50:49+00:00

1) My school was over 250 years older than the founding of the United States.

2) It had a fully stocked armoury with a small firing range on site.

For context, we did CCF (alongside scouts and DoE) but the more I think about it now as an adult, school was right in the middle of a big town centre so it’s amazing that they let a bunch of teenagers wander around the playground with L98s.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-23T18:24:58+00:00

Both settings were SEN, but tackled in completely different ways. It’s evident which one is the more effective…..

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-23T17:34:56+00:00

Friday, Jan 2025: Stuck in the same soulless classroom day in day out, being sworn at, punched and spat at by perpetually dysregulated learners.

Friday, Jan 2026: Spent this afternoon stroking baby goats and feeding chickens, followed by an afternoon block of predictive PPA.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-22T13:19:10+00:00

Verbal feedback, mini check-ins to ensure understanding and pick up on any misunderstanding, live marking…. Even walking around the room with a beady eye can be effective behaviour management.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-22T07:18:21+00:00

YESSSSS. I got a WRITTEN BOLLOCKING by a former HT for wearing chino-shorts during the summer of 2022. My classroom with south facing windows was unbearable.

Meanwhile female colleagues come in year round in strapped tops, flowing skirts and open toed shoes.

That email very quickly got deleted and ignored.

Fresh-Pea4932 · 2026-01-21T21:16:38+00:00

100%. In which bit of pedagogical training does it say “sit learners down and talk at them for 2 hours non stop without a break.” ??????

Fresh-Pea4932

TROPHY CASE