After a week of FRANTIC activity - it's no joke as a newbie to both country and school, trying to support a team of 13 teachers plus support staff, several of whom are also new to the school/country/yeargroup/all of the previous AND try to set up a classroom with no resources.

I arrived here with a suitcase full of clothes and a few story books and sequins (don't know why sequins, but it turned out to be a good idea) expecting to inherit stuff from the previous owner and be able to raid the resource cupboard and paper store. This turned out to be a false assumtion; so I've stuggled a bit to get everything underway in the short time that has elapsed since arriving in school last Sunday morning and the children arriving today (Thursday).

On the positive side my team are great - so supportive and helpful, even though I don't know all their names yet! My TA is wonderful, bringing signs and posters every morning she has made overnight to help, laminating at a 100 miles an hour everything I bring, and explaining all the new school routines to me.

Anyway; today was D Day, when the new children arrived. It's Ramadan and there is something of a scare over this swine flu pandemic, so we expected some children to stay at home until after Eid in two weeks time, but 17 of my 25 turned up with their parents through the morning.

My class is overloaded with girls, and some of them have already established themselves as little sweethearts, getting right on with the sticking and the playdough (including putting sequins in the playdough - I had to laugh, even though that wasn't the idea!).

One was distraught when her parents left the room to hear a pep talk by the principal and was inconsolable until they returned. Two others also cried - one firmly put her rucksack back on and demanded to be released to find her parents and was very indignant when we wouldn't let her go.

A little boy (June birthday) also cried and wouldn't be distracted by building a tower - but one of the shyer little girls began to join in with the play even if he didn't! Another boy came in a Ferrari T shirt - when I admired it he agreed that he liked cars and knew Michael Schumacher, but gravely explained that when he comes again to start properly on Sunday, he would be in his smart new uniform.

One child was quite ready to go home at the end of the session - but her toddler brother cried to stay and play longer.

Many of the children will be arriving at school on a school bus, as they live at some distance away and are collected. I was surprised to find that one little dot's parents had left her to go home on the bus today by herself. Naturally I escorted her to her driver and helped her up the waist high steps on to her vehicle. The driver was also a bit nonplussed, as obviously a 3 year old wouldn't be able to tell him where to stop. But he phoned the mother on her mobile and received instructions, and I introduced her to another child and her mum so I was able to leave her in his care with fewer worries.

So that is the first week done! I have to write a letter for the parents and sort out a couple of timetables ready for Sunday at some time over the weekend, but for now I'm going to enjoy my Friday off!

Empty classroom

My TA and I in our distressingly empty classroom. It looks better now!