Seeking balance and advice on how to achieve it

[Snowflakewater]

As you all know I moved this year from what feels like one hectic thing to another!

Behaviour has been a bit up and down. I feel like because I finish late 6ish that actually I rarely have time for myself of the evening. My last school finished at 2:50 most days and I was out by 4 latest!

I worry that if I leave bang on time I’m “the one who picks up their bag and leaves straight away” as I’ve heard that about others but surely it’s not healthy to assume other people live and breathe work. I’ve stayed late because I just don’t get time to do work in the day or I have something else to do in ppa.

I feel hugely unsettled at the moment, and the staff room gets me a bit anxious sometimes! I also don’t feel like I fit in yet? I think some of the other newbies are similar too but my timetable is packed to I don’t get to see them or ask.

Are you getting your extra non contact for being in y2?

How much non contact should I have? I feel like I don’t actually have much so I work at the end of the day to play catch up

10% PPA which all staff have. Plus 5% in addition for ECT2.

You really need to be more clued up about your contractual rights and obligations. You don't seem to know much about what you are entitled to or how things work. It's not a great position to be in.

its probably because I’ve had conflicting information. I’m told it’s only 10% by my new school, and that due some staff leaving suddenly I can’t get the ppa yet and I should have it by next month.

These aren't nice things for you to have - they're yours by rights. Insist that you have your protected time and don't take no for an answer.

It's not only 10% and they can't withhold it til next month. It's statutory.
Which only proves my point that you need to take responsibility for knowing what's what. Read the statutory guidance on induction and get your union involved.

I’m constantly chasing it and I literally have no time in the day for my own stuff so when I am free the people I need to talk to aren’t. To add to it I’ve chased and chased my mentor for a meeting and still radio silence. I’m already knackered it’s draining chasing others who should know what they need to do

I feel for you, op. It is not easy starting a new school. You need a meeting with your mentor. Hopefully, they can talk you through stuff like this. I didn’t want to ‘read and run’ - sorry, this became an essay 🤣

There are a few worrying signs about not great running of the school - that people leaving seems to equate to you not getting your statutory PPA time?? I suppose it is the real world but not a good start for you. You have been told you will have PPA next month (does that mean November?!) They may have to get someone in to cover your class for one afternoon (or whatever) before that so you can prepare, plan and assess. I get that budgets are difficult right now but PPA is essential for staff and to benefit pupils. I know it’s hard when you are new but you really should insist on this ASAP not only for your benefit but for the pupils’ too. Especially if it doesn’t happen ‘next month’ (after half-term?) I think Ofsted wouldn’t look very highly on staff, especially ECTs not getting this. That seems to work with some management, if nothing else does. Also, if they don’t put it in place, they are surely at risk of losing more staff? 😔

As for the leaving at 6 most days, you very well might have to do that as you don’t have PPA! A new job can take longer at the beginning but try to say you will only leave at 6pm say twice per week, other evenings you leave at 5pm. These are the kind of times I work but you have to work that out for you. You need to decide if you prefer doing it all (or mostly) at school or will take some work home with you and leave earlier. Also, staying after school could mean you have a bit of time to build relationships with colleagues.

You need to work out what works best for you in terms of getting the work done to the best of your ability and not exhausting yourself. I have been in the teaching field for more than 20 years 😳and it took me a few years to get this as right as I could for me and my family but I have one evening completely off in week and 2 at weekends. That helps. I set aside regular time for something I enjoy each week (hobby) and time for family/friends each weekend. It is in no way perfect but it’s good (got to factor housework/cooking in there too, it is not easy at times) I still get stressed sometimes though! Work on planning and protecting your time. It’s important.

’Fewer Things Better’ by Angela Watson was really helpful to me and I actually went down to 0.8 once I had DC. But that is not helpful to you right now as ECT.

Good luck with it all. Happy to talk on here about it if helpful to you.

Get your union involved. This is exactly why you are in one.