Workload in a 1 form entry

[Bakingwithmyboys]

I'm curious as to what it would be like in a 1 form entry primary school.
I'm currently in a 4 form entry and we split planning across the teachers. We make sure that all foundation is done in the holidays so it's ready to go and then spend the weeks tightening out English/maths/reading. (1 teacher tends to take each subject but we have intervention maths and reading classes that need separate planning).

We use no schemes at all and everything is on a IWB. Your questions/SEND adaptions/challenge questions. It's a lot to do just for 1 subject.

Now I know I could not do this in a 1 form entry, I would drown!

So how do you get through the planning? Is it the use of schemes? I've been in my current school 12 years and think I need a change but it's so scary after so long!

I teach in a 1 form entry. We use Grammarsarus and Kapow to help us plan.

It does take ages to plan but once you've done it you can tweak for the following year - hoping that SLT don't change the year group you're teaching!

I'm working in a three form entry, and I find the workload more than in a one form entry! We share the subjects, but because that means that other teachers are using my planning, the planning has to be incredibly clear and precise, so that the other teachers can pick it up. In a one form entry school, you are just planning for yourself, so you know what's in your head and can just run with it. When I worked in a one form, we were able to just "skeleton plan" our lessons and units amd adapt accordingly without worrying about anyone else. I found it easier. Foundation subjects didn't need too much planning, as we were encouraged to not teach subjects separately, but together if possible. For example, a non chron in English, covered aspects of the history curriculum. A diary entry in English in role as an explorer, covered aspects of the geography curriculum. I preferred that to what I do now.

I agree with @TeacherPrimaryabc !

I work in a two form at the moment and we split planning equally. Admittedly we aren’t doing much this year as nothing has changed from last year so just reusing. But when I do plan I find myself making it WAY more detailed to ensure my partner fully follows and can understand, I consider the SEN in her class the way she considers the high flyers in mine etc etc. I previously worked in a one form and found it SO much quicker and easier as even though I was doing it all myself, I was doing it for my eyes only and could skim over a lot of bits etc etc as I knew what I was doing.

Why are you all planning in the holidays? That's mad in a 4 form entry. Obviously we all have to plan bits in our own time occasionally but it most definitely shouldn't be an expectation that every holiday you're planning.

It really depends on the school, what schemes are available and the quality of previous year's planning (there really is no point reinvented the wheel). Foundation subjects should only really need tweaking each year, there's absolutely no need to plan from scratch each time.

Personally I preferred planning in a 1 form but I am a bit of a control freak lol. You don't need to agree or run anything by anyone else when you're the only teacher. Plus plans can be briefer as you planned it and know what you mean/what you're doing. Planning in a team means making everything very explicit for everyone which can be more time consuming in a way. You can also plan as and when suits you, without anyone else waiting on it or chasing you for it.

Edit - I typed this before reading the other replies. Really interesting that others found larger schools more time consuming to plan for too!

Interesting replies. I get about it being easier if you're only planning for yourself.

We also have a ridiculous marking policy, so I can't imagine not planning in the holidays. I guess some can probably do it in term time. We basically split the subjects and you check it over or replan if needed. We have had one of those year groups this year where we have had to make some heavy adaptions.
We don't use any schemes so a replan is quite a lot of work.