September
Back to School
September resources for the start of a new academic year
📅 Late August through mid-September
September is the most consequential month in the school year. The routines you set, the names you learn, the relationships you build — these compound for the rest of the year. Here's everything we have that supports a strong start.
First-week essentials
What experienced teachers prioritise in week one.
First-Week Routines Pack
The 12 routines you must establish in the first two weeks — entry, transitions, lining up, asking for help, finishing work, end of day. With explicit teaching scripts.
Carpet & Lining-Up Expectations Poster
A two-poster set showing exactly what 'good carpet' and 'good lining up' look like. Visual support for younger children — print A3, mount where children can see.
Class Newsletter — Weekly/Monthly Template
A simple, scannable class newsletter template — what we did, what's coming up, important dates, how to help. Designed to actually get read.
Articles for the first weeks
If you read three articles before September, make them these.
First-year teaching
The First Week of School (and How Not to Wreck It)
The first week of school sets the tone for the entire year. Most NQTs spend it doing the wrong things. Here's what experienced teachers prioritise.
6 min read
First-year teaching
What They Don't Tell You in Teacher Training
Teacher training prepares you for lesson planning. It does not prepare you for what your first term as a class teacher actually feels like. Here's the honest version.
7 min read
First-year teaching
Managing the Class You Inherited
Inheriting a class with established habits — good and bad — is harder than starting fresh. Here's how to reset without blaming the previous teacher.
5 min read
Classroom culture
The Most Important Week of the Year
Most teachers think the first week is for getting to know the children. The teachers whose classrooms run beautifully use it for something quite different.
6 min read
First-year teaching
Your First Parents' Evening (And How Not to Dread It)
Parents' evening can feel like 30 high-stakes interviews with strangers. Here's the structure that works, and the phrases that get you out of awkward moments gracefully.
5 min read
Setting up your classroom
Practical resources for the first days.
Restorative Conversation Script
A simple 6-question script for restorative conversations after a behavior incident. Follows the standard restorative practice format — focused on harm, accountability, and repair.
SEND Parent Meeting — A Prep Template
A template for preparing for parent meetings about a child with SEND — what to say, what to listen for, and how to leave with concrete next steps.
Free bundle
The Starter Pack
18 of our best free resources spanning every subject — the universal entry point.
Looking for other times of year? See all seasonal resources.