Hello teachers,

I was wondering if all the peri teachers have started back at schools they teach in? I teach in 2 schools and one of them has a new head of music from this month. I haven't formally signed a contract with neither schools. At one school my students were dropping off after a change of head last year (the other piano teacher got most of the students for some reason after this change) and I told the head of music I won't be continuing unless I have at least 3 hours of work so I presume I might not be called back at this one.

However at the other school I started last September everything was going really well and the head and I were collaborating on many events. She unfortunately has left and they have a new head of music, but I haven't heard anything yet about starting dates for this term. Should I be worried? I know there are cases when heads of music change they prefer to employ people they know rather than use existing teachers. Maybe it's a case of the new head not being organised yet...

From my experience of peri work it's always a slow start back in the autumn. This may just be a case of a busy, newly appointed HoM not having got round to contacting peris. However, sadly peris sometimes have little job security if there is a change in personnel. I think you need to take the initiative and contact him/her, introduce yourself and ask what is going on. At least then you can make alternative plans quickly if there is a problem.

My peri work starts in the second full week of school term so this week. I'm planning for tomorrow's lessons today.

I think in your position I would contact the school and find out what the situation is - either the new head of music doesn't know about you or like you say maybe they are too busy to have thought about it but if you wait for them to contact you, you might find that they have made other arrangements. I would have thought that keeping the same peri teacher would be important for continuity with the pupils.

Definitely up to you to be proactive and get in touch with them.

As a suggestion the first school could put a note in the newsletter for new parents to sign up their children for lessons with you to make up to the 3 hours.

The second school might not have been left any paperwork from the previous HoM and could well be sat there tearing their hair out wondering where to find peris from!

Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.

Cheers

Catherine x

I wouldn't wait for them to contact you, ring them. I contacted my HoM before the end of the holidays to ask what day(s) I could come in. I assume that if pupils are learning with me at the end of term 6 then they will still be with me for the following academic year unless they say otherwise, not be given to another teacher.

Thanks for all your suggestions, I did as I was told (contacted the school) and it turned out the new head was trying to contact me but the old head didn't leave her my details. To add fuel to the fire, the new head went to the bursar in desperation to find out how she can contact me and the bursar told her I should know what day I'm going back so she won't bother giving her my contact details! This was definitely not what I was told, I ws told to wait for a call from the new head

Oh well, all sorted, so thank you again. It's nice to feel wanted, I have missed the boys (however big and smelly, teenage sulks etc...) and look forward to going back.

Glad it's all sorted out positively for you and hope you have a good term.

Ditto!

Glad it's worked out - I bet the head is breathing a sigh of relief as well!

Have a great term.

Catherine x

I contact - by phone and try to pop in to see - music coordinators.heads of department in the part-week that children start. This year I got round most of my schools in the two staff training days before the kids went back. I keep it short, friendly and fairly informal, just to give out an advance copy of my newsletter, check timetables, new starters, exams, school trips etc and introduce myself to any new staff. Hopefully gets me brownie points for being proactive with the schools and gives me the chance of a flying start when I start back teaching the first full week of term.