Summary
Individual feedback will be given to classroom teachers and, in
some cases, recommendations will be made. The intention of this
paper is to summarise the findings.
1 Furniture
In the majority of rooms the use of space is good. It is possible
for children to have access to areas of the room to enable them
to be independent learners. All rooms have a flexible layout for
a range of activities and learning situations. Some rooms have
been rearranged since the observations were made and before feedback
was offered. This indicates continuous re-evaluation of classroom
layouts.
Some rooms are altered for particular lessons.
Some rooms have areas for improvement that have been identified.
In these it is clear that to move around the room might cause
difficulties.
Action
Team meetings should be held in each room in the year area in
turn. An agenda item should feature the physical organisation
of the room.
2 Labelling
The majority of the rooms were labelled according to school guidelines.
Two class rooms were not. These staff will be asked to their drawers
correctly.
Action
The relevant sections of the Classroom Organisation booklet will
be photocopied, highlighted and passed to the staff involved.
3 Classroom Resources
Items of a similar nature were stored together. Art materials
were easy to access in all rooms. Maths equipment in classrooms
was generally restricted to multi-link.
Computers were sited well, with thought given to the wiring.
Action
There should be thought given to the everyday mathematical items
that students need to facilitate independent learning.
4 Work tops
Work tops were generally well kept. A range of books are in all
rooms. Some rooms have now acquired book cases and in the main
these are well displayed, although this will need to be monitored.
Action
Monitor the use of bookcases in classrooms.
5 Clearing up for the day
Observations were carried out between 7.30 - 8.00 a.m. In most
cases before the staff were in. On two occasions staff were embarrassed
by how their rooms had been left by staff covering them the previous
afternoon.
It is essential that rooms are left each evening in a condition
that facilitates an efficient start to the following morning.
Action
Staff covering must take responsibility for clearing up the room
they are in.
6 Displays
There was evidence that some displays were removed well before
another was ready to take its place. In some cases too many displays
were removed at the same time leaving the room looking bare.
Action
Teams to be reminded of their responsibility to audit their own
areas.
If this proves to be difficult for them teams could make an arrangement
between themselves and audit/review the progress made two weeks
before the end of each half term.
7 Stockrooms
Some stockrooms had little in them, others were quite full but
with mainly relevant items in them. Resources for students were
at an appropriate height. Two stock rooms were overly cluttered
and will need some materials removing.
Action
These stock rooms will be tidied and staff encourage to discard
obsolete items.
Although there was general evidence to support the view that
school guidelines were being followed it would be useful if attention
was drawn to the Classroom Organisation documentation.