Caroline Spalding

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FWIW for any teachers reticent to go to Japan in the heat of summer, particularly with little ones, know it is a wonderful time to go. You get matsuri celebrations, bon odori dances, lantern festivals, hanabi (fireworks) and its heaps quieter than Easter.

The last two weeks have again proven why Japan is my favourite place on the planet.

Home now to diet and detox 🇯🇵

A joyful start to the summer break watching my daughter fall in love with a place I love, Shimokitizawa in Tokyo ✌️

Yep! It appeared in the middle of lunch break too. Luckily no Y7s swallowed 😅 Daughter ok thankfully but now trying to work out how to keep her medication refrigerated on a 17hr flight… Have a fab summer. 2nd nephew joining you in Sept!

My Head and fellow Deputy left today. As much as I am excited to a new era with an excellent new team I have lost my right arm.

Brilliant, values-led, men the pair of them.

But, I did survive. And so shall our wonderful school.

a person is pressing an emergency stop button on a yellow box ALT: a person is pressing an emergency stop button on a yellow box

This week has so far brought sink holes in the school field and unanticipated x-ray for my daughter and a 999 call.

Can Mrs Spalding survive until end of term tomorrow…?

My fingers are very much crossed.

I am so proud of the journey our school has been on around reading over last 3yrs. We now have robust evidence-informed intervention that led to a celebration of achievement for 60 students who’ve made incredible gains this year. We’re indebted to Trinity Wakefield and @funkypedagogy.bsky.social.

My daughter starts primary school in September and the school has completely nailed transition.

- PE lessons weekly in school hall
- Lunch in their canteen every Friday
- A visit from her teacher at her preschool
- 2 transition mornings
- Today a handwritten letter from her personal ‘buddy’

❤️❤️❤️

This just came up on my Facebook memories - 7 years ago the Team English National Conference. Look at that programme though 😍😍😍

My best mate @jenowenteacher.bsky.social just finished her PGCE and she’s walking into a TLR in September. She’s an advert for career changers and I honestly couldn’t be more proud. The profession will be better for having her in it ❤️❤️❤️

You know how child development ‘leaps’ are close together when first born then become more spaced ou? Do you think it’s same for leadership development…?

I feel like it’s taken 3yrs to fully make ‘leap’ to grasping deputy headship. Can only imagine how long it takes to feel fully effective as Head.

4 going on 14! You blink and it happens. Hope you and yours are well x

Shout out to the senior leaders who get home from work to making pirate costumes and packed lunches before they start work again… Not grumpy. Love her. Love my job. Lucky to get to have both!

My daughter’s primary and preschool have nailed it. School dinners and PE lessons since Jan. Now she’s started transition days she already feels like she goes there! We are so lucky.

Reaching! That’s how knackered I am 😅

I realised today I’m teaching half my life as a full time teacher. That feels fairly significant.

Still exhausting. Still brilliant.

Still learning myself every single day.

I bet! Wholly deserved 👏👏👏

After being a double RI school for several years, I am very pleased to say that our Ofsted report was published today and we are Good in all areas! What a relief. Happy Friday!

An enormous congratulations to Belper School and @matildewarden.bsky.social on a truly superb Ofsted report. I know from family and friends who have children there the impact you have had. Brilliant to see this reflected in print! I hope you’re celebrating 🥂

This is wonderful!

Wooden name badge with the name Matilde and school logo on it.

Our Head of Technology has made wooden name badges for all our Year 6’s who are coming up for induction day in a couple of weeks. They double up as keyrings for their locker keys too. So cute! I was very chuffed to have been given one this morning too!

Separate queues?! This was a thing? Horrific.

Can’t help but think my daughter’s going to be so disappointed by her primary school Technology lessons next year thanks to my ex-D&T teacher dad 😅

For his 40th I’ve flown my husband to Belfast to see his Derbyshire tattooist who inconveniently relocated. Love the folk stories behind his rather lovely inkings.

AKA a power team 😜💪

Yes, a married couple! 😅

😂😅🤣

YouTube video by David Shutter Armstrong and Miller Exam Hall Sketch 2

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