Would I be expected to volunteer on my PGCE before my placement begins?

[jacketoff]

I am repeating a placement on my PGCE at the start of October in a year 1 class
I have been advised by a teacher friend (who works in different school by the way) to volunteer and come into the placement school before my placement starts and volunteer.

Would I be expected to do this and would the school judge me if they find out that I spent the weeks before my placement starts not doing anything really in my life?

My course leader said the reason the placement is not starting for another month is to let the children and teachers settle in to their new classes and new school year.

I didn’t start my PGCE until about the third week in September. I didn’t even know which school I’d be placed at first until about October!

Yes. If you possibly can it is helpful. (and expected )

It doesn't need to be the placement school. You often don't know which it is until just before. But you are repeating a placement so you already have that experience

No I've never heard of this being expected.

Why are you repeating?

I just wondered whether the teacher might not want a student with them in the first week or 2 in the new school year.

Or am I talking rubbish?

If you're repeating because you weren't successful in a previous placement I would massively advise doing a little volunteering before you go in, even if it's just for a couple of days a week. It will make things go much more smoothly and you'll be more comfortable with the children, the school policies, routines, marking, assessment etc.

Is this something you really want to do as you don't seem to be overly willing to give a little extra. Even a few days would benefit you, the children and the school. I can't understand why you'd not want to do this if you genuinely wanted to be a teacher.

Nerves getting the better of me when teaching.

Not noticing that a child at the back was reading a book and not listening to me for 10 minutes.

Honestly, it’s comments like this that make me realise teaching is on a whole other universe to any other profession.

I’m very serious about my
job/career. Doesn’t mean I’d ever remotely consider starting a new role ahead of time in a volunteering capacity just to learn the ropes. That’s what you do once you’re in role.

Yet another reason why I’m unsurprised people are leaving teaching in droves. The expectations are completely unrealistic and the pay appalling considering.

But she's not a teacher - yet. She is a STUDENT.

Lots of people volunteer for things which they think will put them in a better position for passing a course or getting a job.

But the point is, she already has a placement arranged at the school. Why should it be “expected” that OP also volunteer her own time ahead of the placement?

Because she failed the placement last time and wants to do everything she possibly can to pass second time?

Year 1 teacher

It's absolutely not expected.

However, it can't hurt - IF the teacher wants you in. You could email and say you have some free time, you'd be happy to come in and listen to readers or something if there's a session that suits her/him.

Also were you in KS1 for your previous placement? If not, read up a lot on transition from EYFS to KS1. Year 1 in the autumn term can be very different to Year 1 summer term depending on the set up of the class so do your research! The school might have a continuous provision approach in autumn term/Year 1/KS1 and if you haven't experienced it before, it would be worth doing some reading now.

As a teacher, I would find this more of a hindrance than a help. The first 2 weeks can be absolutely exhausting trying to establish routines, get my head around a new curriculum (year group change) and generally get everything to where I want it to be. If I had to manage a volunteer on top of that it would really add to my to stress levels!

I don't work in primary but cannot see why you would need to volunteer before hand. I agree that the teacher will want the first few weeks to get established with their class. It would be a better use your spare time to do some reflection on what went wrong last time, then when you can read and research udeas to fix the problem when you start placement do some focussed observation. Good luck op, they must think you can do if they are letting you retake rather than just a fail!

Any other teachers would you be ok with me volunteering at the start of the new school year?

Urgh, ignore all my typos, I hope you can understand what I meant!