ECT September Tips

Top Tips for ECTs Starting Their First Job in September

Your summer preparation guide for a confident start

The summer holidays before your first teaching job can feel like a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. Part of you wants to plan everything down to the last detail, while another part just wants to enjoy your final weeks of freedom before the whirlwind begins.

After supporting many newly qualified teachers through their first years, I've learned that the secret isn't preparing for everything – it's preparing for the right things. Here's your practical guide to using the summer wisely, without sacrificing your wellbeing before you've even started.

The Golden Rule: Less Is More

Before we dive into specific tips, remember this: you cannot prepare for everything, and trying to will exhaust you before September even arrives.

Your goal isn't to become a perfect teacher over the summer – it's to feel confident, rested and ready to learn on the job.

What to Do This Summer

1. Master the Basics of Your School

Essential tasks:

• Read your school's behaviour policy thoroughly (you'll reference this daily)

• Understand the timetable structure – when are breaks, lunches, assemblies, etc?

• Learn the school layout from maps or virtual tours

• Familiarise yourself with other key policies – safeguarding, KCSiE, feedback, assessment

Why this matters: Knowing these basics means you'll navigate your first week with confidence rather than constantly asking where things are or how systems work.

2. Plan Your First Two Weeks Only

Resist the urge to plan the entire term. Instead:

• Outline your first 10 lessons in some detail (these will change anyway, as you assess learning and adapt responsively)

• Prepare engaging "getting to know you" activities

• Plan simple routines for entering class, equipment, transitions, etc

• Design basic classroom rules with consequences

Why stop at two weeks? You'll learn so much about your classes in those first days that any plans beyond week two will need changing anyway.

3. Set Up Simple Systems

Create basic templates for:

• Weekly planning (one-page overview)

• Lesson structure (intention, retrieval, delivery, AfL, apply, consolidate, review)

• To-do list format that works for you

The key: Keep everything simple. Fancy, complicated systems fall apart under pressure.

4. Prepare Your Mindset

Realistic expectations:

• You will make mistakes – this is normal and necessary

• Some lessons will flop – even experienced teachers have bad days

• You won't know everything – asking for help is professional, not weak

• It takes time to feel confident – most teachers say it's 2-3 years before they truly find their feet

What NOT to Do This Summer

Don't Over-Plan

Avoid: Creating detailed lesson plans for the entire first term. You don't know your pupils yet, and these plans will likely be irrelevant.

Don't Buy Everything

Avoid: Spending on classroom resources. Start simple – you'll quickly learn what you actually need versus what looked good online.

Don't Compare Yourself

Avoid: Scrolling through Pinterest- or Instagram-perfect classroom photos or other teachers' social media. Remember: you're seeing their highlight reel, not their reality.

Don't Work Through August

Avoid: Planning right up until the night before term starts. You need rest and mental space. 

Wellbeing Strategies for a Sustainable Start

1. Establish Boundaries Early

Create a "work shutdown" routine:

• Choose a time when work stops (e.g., 7pm)

• Don't have your work email on your phone - the temptation to look will be too much

• Develop a physical ritual – close laptop, tidy desk, change clothes

• Plan evening activities that don't involve screens

2. Build Your Support Network

Identify your go-to people:

• School mentor – for immediate practical questions

• Subject/phase colleague – for curriculum and planning support

• Wellbeing buddy – someone to check in with emotionally

• Non-teaching friend – for perspective and normal conversation

3. Prepare for the Energy Crash

Teaching is physically and emotionally exhausting. Prepare by:

• Meal prepping easy dinners for your first few weeks

• Setting up grocery delivery or takeaway options

• Arranging childcare/pet care if needed

• Clearing your social calendar for the first month

4. Create Micro-Recovery Moments

Plan tiny breaks throughout your day:

• Two minutes of deep breathing between lessons

• Five minutes outside during lunch

• Ten minutes of something enjoyable when you get home

Your August Wind-Down Strategy

Early August: Complete your essential preparation (policies, basic planning, systems)

Mid-August: Step away from school work completely. Read fiction, exercise, see friends, do hobbies

Final week of August: Do a gentle review of your preparation, check your classroom is ready, then focus on resting

The Night Before Term Starts

Don't: Stay up late frantically planning

Do:

• Lay out clothes for the first day

• Pack bag with essentials

• Set a calm evening routine – bath, early night, something relaxing

• Remind yourself: You're ready enough, and tomorrow is just the first step in your teaching journey

Remember: You've Got This

Starting your first teaching job is like learning to drive – scary at first, but it becomes natural with practice. Every experienced teacher once stood exactly where you are now, feeling exactly the same mix of excitement and nerves.

The secret isn't being perfect from day one. It's being prepared enough to handle the basics, resilient enough to learn from mistakes, and wise enough to ask for help when you need it.

Looking Ahead

If you're looking for practical support as you start your ECT journey, I'm here to help. I'm currently developing various ways to support early career teachers - from partnerships with education providers to independent workshops. Ready to connect with support that actually understands your challenges? Contact me.

Your teaching career is a marathon, not a sprint. Start strong, but pace yourself for the long run.

Welcome to the profession. The children in your classroom are lucky to have you.

Ready for more practical guidance? My book The ECT Survival Guide provides the complete survival guide for early career teachers, including detailed strategies for everything from lesson planning to parent communication. Available now on Amazon.