What do teachers know in advance ?

[GrandmaSharksDentures]

Just a question for teachers, something I have wondered over the past few years.
How much & what do teachers know about children in their new class from the previous year? Do you see their report or internal data or it is more informal ie a chat in the staff room. Or a complete surprise?

[Barbarafromblackpool]

If you already work in the school you'd know quite a bit. I used to see data before I got a new class and spoke to their previous teacher (primary). There was also plenty of chat in the staffroom.

[Wallabyone]

We would have all data from the previous teacher, and have a handover chat to find out about the kids as individuals.

[Be1atrix]

In our school we have 'pen portraits'. I read them all in the summer/

[SallyLovesCheese]

Yep, progress and attainment data from the previous year(s), chat with the teacher (including any home life issues, who their friends are, who not to sit them next to etc), report, books/examples of work, attendance percentages, class groups they were in last year, details of any interventions, any EHCP/SaLT/ outside agency reports.

[katycb]

Yup most places I've had internal data and a hand over meeting also any SEN paperwork and info about children where there are child protection issues.

[ASauvignonADay]

Assume you mean primary?
At secondary the data type stuff is all electronic so staff can access when they know their new classes.
For new tutors - usually a formal handover chat or at least meeting to highlight concerns or things they need to know.

And when y7 join - we meet with each primary school and they share behaviour/attendance/child protection concerns and SEN information. We tend to try and meet with parents of children we're concerned about either before September or right at the start, so we're across the detail from day 1.

[GrandmaSharksDentures]

Very interesting, thank you for the insights

[ASauvignonADay]

Also re safeguarding stuff - most our local schools use a system call CPOMS. Every incident or concern is logged, and gets transferred with them if they move around. Usually this is only viewed by designated safeguarding staff, but parts will be shared with teaching staff.

[Danglingmod]

At secondary, there is a lot of info held digitally (though for the new year 7 s, it can really vary as to what primary school does and doesn't pass on) but with most teachers teaching up to 300 kids per week, it can take a while to look through this info and even match names to faces.

[NearlyGranny]

You can tell an awful lot just from a class list merely by the children's names and how the parents have spelt them!

[Teachermaths]

Secondary we have last years data and SEN info.

For new year 7s very little info filters through, apart from SATS scores.

[Moominmammaatsea]

@NearlyGranny, we'd rock you out of your narrow, little, prejudiced world. My daughter has a name gifted her by her birth parents who were not able to keep her safe to adulthood. She is a super-stellar achiever, who, despite her terrible start in life and without any external help, scored within the top 20 students in her excessively-tutored peer group to ace a place at her super-selective Grammar school.

[NearlyGranny]

I love the Moomins, too. I hoped MN could recognise tongue-in-cheek when they read it and I think most can. You have literally no idea of the breadth of my world: if I told you where I've been volunteering this year and under what conditions, it would broaden your mind, I'm sure!

Lukim yu, Moominmamma

[CheesecakeAddict]

I get nothing. Unless I've taught that child before, I will have to ask last year's teacher. I don't have access to the marksheet on sims and the SEN info until about early October

[AThousandTears]

At our primary, data is on a system that is accessed by all the teachers as they are all leading a subject and track attainment and progress. We take part in moderation where children’s work is brought to staff meetings and we all ask each other for advice regularly.
It’s a massive strength for us that we know our kids so well. Handovers between year groups is often the extra stuff like seating or things parents have said.
Safeguarding is obviously kept for the safeguarding leads and everyone else is told need to know information.

I don’t think anyone should be just getting a surprise when they walk into the classroom each September.