Help save my sanity...

[tryagainsardines]

So my HT has emailed all teachers to let us in on a few changes for the Autumn term:

1. We will be assessing and entering data every half term.
2. We will baseline core subjects every term.
3. We need to have "Ofsted ready" lesson plans in place.
4. Medium term plans need to be in place for Sept (fair enough) alongside a detailed rational of each lesson.
5. Marking must be completed at the end of every lesson and a reflective question must be asked for each piece of work. We must also refer back to previous work and reflect of their progress and ask them another question about this.
6. The children have to chose activites at break and lunch time and only a group of 12 are allowed out in the playground at once.
7. Case studies/behaviour plans must be seperate to their IEP's and we must have one in place for every child.
8. Displayed work must have 4 staples in each corner (really?!)

There's more but I can't bring myself to keep typing about it. Is it just me or is this just too much?
For context, I'm in a SEN school so much of no. 7 needs to be done but an IEP should cancel out a case study etc.

I also understand that some of this is good practise (eg marking and asking reflective questions- but all the time?! My class are on the lower end of the P scale.)

Please enlighten me with all the good things your school has put in place or done away with to help lighten workload.
(Also, I'm not complaining as I fully intend to do something about this in Sept. Union are aware of email- it's not a workload/teacher bashing thread- I love my job!!)

Run for the hills.

I'm not a teacher.

But surely lesson plans should be 'Ofsted ready', as Ofsted should see what you normally do, not some polished up version? Or is the issue that Ofsted ready is completely OTT for what is required day-to-day?

I used to work in SW and was involved in procedures / working to standards / being ready for assessments. One big issue was that people used to over-complicate because they wouldn't listen to me they thought more paperwork=better, which of course often it doesn't.

Other than that, there was something in the news recently about a school where marking had been abolished in favour of 1-1 teacher-child reviews weekly/fortnightly. Perhaps you should suggest that? If they are working to p-scales, how much are they going to get out of written comments anyway?

4 staples in each corner? Do you mean 4 staples, 1 in each corner?

Have a good summer break. You sound like you deserve it!

Surely Ofsted ready lesson plans means lessons that have been planned to meet the needs of the kids following your assessment of the previous day's learning, yada yada yada? Not off the shelf, random, 'outstanding on paper' lessons??

It all looks batshit, of course. Bit surprising to see some of it written down as the head is just inviting unions to get involved.

But also a lot of it doesn't look that surprising unfortunately

Ofsted don’t require lesson plans so doing these is unnecessary workload.
Why on earth would only 12 kids be allowed out to play at a time?
Marking policy is bonkers.

This goes against everything that Ofsted and the DfE have been putting out about reducing workload.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593913/6.2799_DFE_MB_Reducing_Teacher_Workload_Poster_20161213_print.pdf

I would imagine the 12 children only being something to do with sen and managing needs.

We've just done away with marking for pupils working on P scales -who are you doing it for? The pupils can't read it and often can't remember the previous lesson in enough detail to be able to analyse their own learning

Has your head ever worked in SEN before?

So I work in an SEN school and think we have a good balance.

1. And 2. We assess against all p scales annually, at the end of the year. We assess against their EHCP outcomes three times a year and against their main curriculum outcomes three times a year.

1. We don’t have to do lesson plans however there must be somewhere written down for each lesson what the outcomes/objectives for the students are. I do detailed daily plans. These should be clear for anyone walking in the room and for any time of the day.

1. We do MTPs although I am not a big fan of them. I do have individual objectives/outcomes for all lessons

1. Marking is done by all adults writing how the students get on with the activities. Marking is for my benefit so I know where to go next with the students. My students would not benefit from written feedback.

1. Playtimes are often a flashpoint for challenging behaviours so are carefully staffed and my class often go out at different times instead choosing from activities in class

1. Each of my students has an EHCP, curriculum outcomes, risk assessment, communication passport and behaviour support plans. I keep these in individual folders for staff and visitors to access.

1. Displays are a challenge. I usually laminate and use Velcro as my students pull them down. 4 staples sounds weird although I knew a head who insisted on colour coordinated drawing pins!

Your system seems a bit ott at times especially the marking.

Either I know where you work @tryagainsardines or your school is very much like mine I've just left! There surely can't be two SEN schools like this?

noble is right, Ofsted don't want to see your lesson plans.

If it is the school I know then they are right to be worried about an imminent Ofsted but not because the teachers are poor they aren't. The problem is the management.

It's good you've got the Union on it, they should be helping.

Why don't you ask your Head for Perspex covers for your display boards rather than the crazy number of staples?

The marking think sounds bonkers for pupils on P scales. Is it part of a learning journey type thing where the questions are reflection points for YOU? That I would kind of understand.

What grade is your school on? Does the Head have Ofsted window stress?

Do you have Tapestry BTW? It's really good for generating assessed learning journals if you have Ipads to run it off.

Not off the shelf, random, 'outstanding on paper' lessons??
To clarify, this is exactly what we had to hand in. A single, stand alone lesson that we have to whip out for when Ofsted come in.
I would be happy for any inspector/visitor or SLT drop in to come into my classroom at any time so I'm not sure why I need to prove I can write an "outstanding" lesson.
4 staples in each corner? Do you mean 4 staples, 1 in each corner?
The latter is correct! I did indeed mean 4 staples, one in each corner, thank you :)
ladypeacock I used to create some lovely interactive displays with velcro etc very hands on and definitely met the needs of my class which they would get up to use in a lesson, creating an opportunity to practise independence skills. I'm no longer allowed to display work/ learning wall in my class now. The boards are used for a whole school purpose which is very generic.
lorisparkle thank you for the comparison.
I no longer tend to write detailed lesson plans as they take a lot of differentiation and resourcing which takes most of my PPA. I also find I'm constantly adapting a lesson so it's always more than a quick tweal the next time I come to use it. Outcomes and SC are always displayed and to hand/written down. As is a lesson overview.
My students do not benefit from written feedback, either.
I have similar to your number 7 and my folder is accessible to any adult in school. There is more paper work. I havent mentioned the half termly targets we have to create alongside 4 other set of targets (consisting of six each, which have to be changed termly.)
ThereCantOnlyBeOne
If we are in the same school then I'm sorry to see you go and I'm sending you a MN cheery wave :)

I think what I would like to do when I go back is brooch the issue of excess paperwork. It is getting me down somewhat.

Ofsted don’t ask you for lesson plans in my recent experience.

This is madness. Contact your union

Run for the hills!

Though seriously, Ofsted don't ask for all that. They do ask you follow your SCHOOL policy so if this is the school policy you are expected to follow it. I have zero idea why schools read the ofsted mythbusting documents and still ask for this nonsense.

Also contact your union for advice. It's unreasonable to bring in that much extra work and certainly unreasonable to be sending it out to staff over the summer holidays (for a start, you don't have to check your work email during the break anyway).

I have zero idea why schools read the ofsted mythbusting documents and still ask for this nonsense.

Hopefully this isn't outing but someone actually posted a copy of one of these on the staffroom wall. At break we came in to see it ripped off and scrunched on the floor. Oh dear!

(for a start, you don't have to check your work email during the break anyway).
maisypops definitely a mistake on my part!!

Ripped and scrunched on the floor?! I kind of love that.

Calm down Beyonce!

calm down Beyonce!

Haha! it was the talk of the staffroom for ages. Half of it was still up there hanging off the bluetak (should've used 4 staples...)

The DfE posted a workload-reducing toolkit for schools on the first day of the holidays which might be worth looking at if you’re going to take this up properly with your union/head. (I’ve not looked at it but I expect it says STOP DOING THIS SHIT TO YOUR STAFF).

Ofsted should really penalise leaders who ignore the myth-busting document, it’s the only way some of them will pay attention.

Marking must be completed at the end of every lesson

End of, as in-whilst you are still teaching it? Or immediately afterwards as in when you are teaching the next? I’d want that clarified.

Actually, I wouldn’t.

I’d be too busy writing my resignation letter. I haven’t written a lesson plan for over 10 years. Ofsted and my heads have never asked for one.

Thank you for your advice noblegiraffe I've had a look at that. It seems like a big read/undertaking (how is that helping to reduce workload?!! haha) for the Summer hols but better to be prepare I guess as I think I do have to challenge some of what's happening.

holidayshopping
I'm not sure but we have to mark it, get them to respond, then we have to acknowledge they have responded. If they still haven't quite got it (which is sometimes likely with the type of students I teach), we continue the call and response until one of us dies from boredom
Also, I love my school and really don't want to leave. I understand I may have to if things aren't resolved

Send him this link:-

www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/jeremy-hannay-guest-post-are-you-looking-at-your-wellbeing-the-right-way

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/593913/6.27999DFEMBBReducingTeacherrWorkloadPosterr20161213_print.pdf

This was produced by Ofsted and the DfE. School leaders are actively being scrutinised during an inspection for ways in which they have reduced teacher workload.

Is there anyone on SLT you can talk to and express your concerns honestly? It is a completely bonkers email, and full of things that absolutely should not be happening. We've just stopped writing comments on FS and Y1 learning as it wasn't for the children, didn't improve progress and was a waste of time. Verbal feedback in the moment is what is needed, which I imagine is what your cohort need. I'm sorry this is happening* to you.

disappearingninepatch
Great article, thank you!

thebookeatinggirl
SLT are unfortunately just going along with it. Honestly, no one really has spoken up about these issues (some were in place/starting to happen before the end of term). One lady did try and they shot her down and no one else stuck their neck out to support them (including me- I didn't have the courage/confidence to help) it was pretty awful. I have also realised after discussing this with other staff that if I go further with this then I am on my own. Not sure what my next steps should be.

We don’t have to submit any lesson plans
We do 2 tracks overall for each yeR group
No one tells us how many staples to use
We are always asked how SMT can help us reduce workload
We mark when needed.

We are an Ofsted outstanding school and one of the top state schools in the country.

Your lust sounds outdated and out of touch with recent changes.

I really feel for you ☹️

List not lust!