Congratulations—your first classroom awaits! September can feel like a whirlwind of inset days, policy booklets and fresh exercise books. Use this step-by-step guide to get organised, stay calm and make a brilliant first impression.
Contents
- Know Your Induction Year Essentials
- Pre-Term Paperwork & Policies
- Classroom Setup That Works From Day One
- Curriculum & Long-Term Planning
- Fast, Fool-Proof Lesson Planning with Lesson Deck
- Behaviour Management Routines
- Building Relationships: Mentors, Parents & Colleagues
- Protecting Your Wellbeing & Work–Life Balance
- Survival Tips for the First Week
- Free Resources & Further Reading
1. Know Your Induction Year Essentials
Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs)—officially called Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in England—complete a two-year induction period. Key points to remember:
- You are entitled to a 10% (Year 1) and 5% (Year 2) reduced timetable.
- You must have a named mentor plus an induction tutor.
- Assessment points occur at the end of each term.
- You’ll follow the Early Career Framework (ECF)—free CPD delivered by a DfE-approved provider.
Action: Add the three assessment dates to your calendar today.
2. Pre-Term Paperwork & Policies
Before pupils arrive, tick off these must-dos:
| Task | Why it matters | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Read safeguarding / KCSIE 2025 update | Legal requirement | ☐ |
| Sign staff handbook | Sets expectations | ☐ |
| Register for ECF provider portal | Starts CPD funding | ☐ |
| Complete medical & DBS checks | Safeguarding compliance | ☐ |
| Collect class lists & SEN information | Informs differentiation | ☐ |
| Note fire drill & lockdown procedures | Health & safety | ☐ |
Pro tip: Save policy documents in a cloud folder labelled “Induction—Policies” for instant reference during inspections.
3. Classroom Setup That Works From Day One
A well-organised room prevents 80% of low-level behaviour issues.
- Seating plan: Arrange desks to maximise teacher sightlines; place SEN or EAL pupils near support.
- Display boards: Prioritise working walls over Pinterest-perfect décor. Include knowledge organisers and sentence stems.
- Stationery zones: A ‘resources station’ reduces endless “Who’s got a glue stick?” interruptions.
- Entry routine: Decide where pupils line up and what they do on entry (e.g., Do-Now on the board).
- Tech check: Test your projector and log-ins before the first lesson—IT tickets can take time.
4. Curriculum & Long-Term Planning
Your department should provide a schematic—an overview of what is taught, when and why. Actions for NQTs:
- Map each unit’s assessment objectives to national curriculum or exam-board specs.
- Identify knowledge prerequisites students should already have.
- Backward-plan major assessments to avoid bottlenecks near report deadlines.
- Add cultural capital links and cross-curricular opportunities (Ofsted loves this!).
Store the overview in a shared drive so colleagues can update it collaboratively.
5. Fast, Fool-Proof Lesson Planning with Lesson Deck
Teacher workload surveys place lesson planning among the top stressors for NQTs. LessonDeck.ai removes the pain:
- Select subject, key stage and topic.
- Enter learning objectives—use keywords from your curriculum map.
- Tick differentiation requirements (EAL, SEND, Greater Depth).
- Click Generate.
In less than 60 seconds you’ll receive:
- A complete 60-minute plan in OFSTED’s intent-implementation-impact format.
- Starter, main, plenary and homework tasks.
- Stretch / scaffold variations and assessment checkpoints.
- Downloadable slides and worksheets (Word, PDF, Google formats).
Result: reclaim 4–6 hours a week—time you can invest in feedback or simply rest.
Try Lesson Deck free
6. Behaviour Management Routines
Consistency beats charisma. Establish your routines early:
Five Golden Rules for NQT Behaviour Management
- Greet pupils at the door—sets expectations instantly.
- Use a clear countdown for silence; avoid raising your voice.
- Frame rules positively: “We listen when others speak,” not “Don’t talk.”
- Deploy a simple rewards/consequences ladder documented in school policy.
- Log incidents on the MIS within 24 hours.
Remember: routines take 2–3 weeks to embed—persist!
7. Building Relationships: Mentors, Parents & Colleagues
Mentor
• Schedule a weekly 30-minute check-in (non-negotiable).
• Share one success and one challenge each time—keeps meetings focused.
Parents
• Send a welcome email or postcard in Week 1.
• Phone home early for positives; it pays dividends when issues arise.
Colleagues
• Eat lunch in the staffroom at least twice a week—networking = support.
• Swap resources via the shared drive to lighten everyone’s load.
8. Protecting Your Wellbeing & Work–Life Balance
- Set a “no-laptop” cut-off—e.g., 8 pm weekdays, 4 pm Sunday.
- Batch photocopying and printing to avoid end-of-day queues.
- Use Lesson Deck to automate routine planning.
- Join your union for advice and legal cover.
- Plan at least one non-teaching hobby night per week.
If you feel overwhelmed, speak to your mentor or access Education Support’s free helpline (08000 562 561).
9. Survival Tips for the First Week
Monday
✔ Arrive 30 minutes early to arrange ‘Do-Now’ slides.
✔ Collect any missing exercise books before lesson two.
Tuesday
✔ Practise the fire-drill route with tutor group.
✔ Email parents of pupils who impressed you on Day 1.
Wednesday
✔ Mid-week morale dip? Pair up with another NQT for coffee after school.
✔ Review seating plans; tweak if necessary.
Thursday
✔ Hand out homework tracker sheets; explain deadlines clearly.
✔ Add reflection notes to LessonDeck plans for tomorrow’s adjustments.
Friday
✔ Celebrate successes in staff briefing.
✔ Leave school by 4:30 pm—you earned it.
10. Free Resources & Further Reading
- Early Career Framework guidance—gov.uk
- SEND Code of Practice summary—nasen.org.uk
Final Thought
Your first September sets the tone for your teaching career. Plan smart, lean on supportive tools like Lesson Deck and remember: progress, not perfection.
Good luck—you’ve got this!