ECT
First Week as a Teacher: A Practical Checklist
What to prioritise in your first week: routines, names, systems and the admin that prevents chaos later.
Week one is for foundations. Pupils will forgive a slightly plain lesson. They will not easily unlearn a chaotic entry routine.
Before Monday
- Know the behaviour policy and log-on systems
- Print week-one seating plans / class lists
- Prepare a reusable starter format
- Find medical / SEND / safeguarding key information routes
- Locate photocopying, first aid and duty expectations
During the week
- Learn names aggressively.
- Teach routines explicitly and practise them.
- Keep lessons simple and tightly timed.
- Write down what went wrong while it’s fresh.
- Ask one experienced colleague where the landmines are.
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TeacherGuide Editorial
TeacherGuide publishes practical guides, buying advice and tools for UK teachers. We prioritise usefulness, independence and clear sourcing — especially on pay, pensions and statutory entitlements. Named contributor bylines will appear here only when real writers are credited.
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