Words of Wisdom

Youth is wasted on the young.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Bell Boy Rings It In

I miss this place. With daily views down at an all time low I have to acknowledge that facebook is winning...

but I wanted to tell you about this...

We have a new Reception boy this year. He's 'one of mine'. Diagnosed with Sensory Modulation disorder, we think he's probably 'on the spectrum'. He's demanding huge amounts of time and resources as we assign a Teacher's Aide to him 1:1, mainly to ensure his safety. If he doesn't like the class activity, he removes himself. This might involve a saunter off into the less structured area of the classroom or a complete runner where we find him sliding up and down the wooden 'fill-ins', between stairs and wall; or hiding in a PE store cupboard. (He's VERY quick!)

Today was another of those classics. I was in the middle of a class with my year 9 maths kids when the fire alarm went off. We dutifully made our way downstairs, wondering idly whether this was the 'surprise' drill following on from the practice drill last week....
Once I had been 'ticked off' the list, I went looking for the little lad, to see how he was coping with the change to his routine.

Before I got there, one of our First Aid ladies came striding purposefully across the oval, with a face that would sink ships. As she approached, she pinned me with a killer stare and announced "BELL Boy set off the alarm" before striding off to inform the two attendant fire engines that they would not be required.....

I moved on to find Bell Boy making his way bemusedly from classroom to the evacuation area with his class. When I greeted him he was quite happy and seemed totally unaware of the chaos he had caused. Not so the rest of the staff and students, who cried for his blood like a banshee pack!

Tomorrow he has the day off but by Thursday we are back on duty,  in the defence of the realm. Wish us luck.