Some hints and tips around starting in a school please?

[DewDropsonKittens]

Hello.. I have posted in the staff room, but not getting much response.

I have secured a role as a safeguarding lead and family worker, in a school.

I have never worked in a school environment, have always been in the community.

Parents... what are your frustrations/ needs for your school point of contact?
As a newbie what would you be expecting?

Teachers / support staff, what are your frustrations? What could I do to help you ?

Any hints or tips for me to help me settle in?

As a parent, I’d like visibility from you, so you’re approachable. Also down to earth, and understanding.

I am a teacher and I appreciate the safeguarding lead keeping me in the loop as much as he can, checking in on the children in my class who need additional attention (due to whatever reason) and also being a safe place for me to send children to when they’re in crisis. The children in our school trust him implicitly and know the boundaries with him. They spend 10 mins with him and return to my class a different child. Build your trust with them.

And good luck, I couldn’t do it, I’d have a house full of children I’d scooped up and brought home.

@shirazSavedMySanity thank you, I was wondering about the balance between teachers and the people I usually meet in meetings about the children and their families.

I definitely want to make great relationships with the teachers.

End of term is fraught.

Schools are busy places and teachers have a lot of things to do. You interrupted/organising this/planning that can result in all these careful plans being thrown off.

Teachers have ears and eyes in the backs of their heads; everything you say will be repeated.

Some teachers almost 'get into character' and it's hard to turn the singy song voice off. There's also usually children around so 'Miss/Mrs' is used. People who aren't used to it or take it personally can say in disgust 'I was spoken to like a 5 y/o'. It's not, it just goes with the territory.

Literally nothing can be kept secret.

Hi op - my job sounds very similar to yours.

My big tip would be: Don't agree to things you won't be able to keep up (eg. Phoning a parent every Friday with an update on their kid. There is NO WAY I could maintain this) - I learnt this early on.

Record everything - we use CPOMS so safeguarding is easy. Make a record of every meeting you have with a parent or other professionals.

I'm not sure what else but feel free to ask if you have any more specific questions?

Is it secondary or primary? And do you have anything to do with attendance and behaviour?

Don’t forget support staff. Yes schools are centred around children and teachers. But you’ll be amazed how many people work “behind the scenes”. It’s a bit unnerving when people remember your name after meeting only a couple of times. But teachers have an amazing ability to remember names. Try to attend as many things as possible like staff meetings (where attendance is preferred but not compulsory) , end of term assemblies etc

YY to previous posters, nothing is secret in schools. Quite often what people don't know they make up too

From a teaching perspective - I'd like to know if, for example, a pupil I teach has been self harming so I can keep an extra eye on them and communicate with the safeguarding lead any specific concerns. It shouldn't just be told to form tutors, who often don't even teach them they only see them at registration. And whilst we always need to watch out for all our pupils it does help when we can watch out for specific ones in the context of knowing they're at risk.

And YY to referring to "Miss Campbell" "Mr Smith" etc in front of pupils. Calling them Nancy/Bob in the staff room is fine though

Also - mix with teachers. Go to the staff room, make friends, find out what people do. I find their can be huge barriers between teaching and non-teaching staff, for a number of reasons, so it's important to break these down, so start as you mean to go on.

It is primary, 2 class per year entry

Yes behaviour and engagement fall within my job role

Lead for assessments / safeguarding
Parent engagement and poorly engaged children.

The idea of being called Mrs Dewdrops makes me feel strange and I am going to take lots of adjustment

Do you allow parents to call you by your first name?

@ASauvignonADay

I'm secondary but most kids and parents call me by my first name. I forgot to not call teachers Miss/Mrs/Mr etc a lot..

Try and get the balance between being caring but also firm and consistent. This is with both children and parents!

Be out and about in the playground every day (or at least 'regularly') when parents are there. Walk about. Introduce yourself. Chat to people about the weather or whatever sporting event is in the news. Let people get used to seeing you chatting to people so it isn't then a 'thing' if anyone wants to come to see you about something or if you want to 'have a word' with anyone at any point - it just looks like you doing your normal thing.

Do some non-threatening things to get families / parents into school - remember many will have pre-schoolers with them. Coffee morning type things but around a focus. Maybe craft mornings or a stay and play for the pre-schoolers. Things that will bring the parents into the building and gain their trust and allow you to get to know people a bit.