Get Ready for Autumn

Get Ready for Autumn: Simple Ways to Refresh Your Classroom

As the leaves start turning and the evenings draw in, autumn brings a natural sense of change. In school, it’s that point where the honeymoon period with your new class begins to fade, and the real routines (and challenges) set in. The good news? A few small tweaks can help you keep things calm, consistent, and motivating right through to half-term.

1. Add a Seasonal Touch

Children love to see the seasons reflected in their classroom environment. A quick autumn-themed display with leaves, acorns, or pumpkins can make the classroom feel fresh and engaging. It doesn’t have to be a huge project – just those small touches that show pupils you’re thinking about them and bring a little seasonal warmth indoors.

2. Stay on Top of Organisation

The busy rush of September can leave you feeling like you’re chasing your tail by October. Now’s the time to reset. Simple routines – keeping on top of reading records, tidying those piles of worksheets, or refreshing your marking system – can save you precious minutes each day. Think of it as an autumn tidy-up: sweeping away the clutter and giving yourself breathing space.

3. Support Every Learner

As mornings get darker and days shorter, some pupils may wobble with mood or energy. Visual prompts, emotion charts, or even simple rituals like a five-minute story at the end of the day can be a real lifeline. These gentle reminders help pupils feel safe and supported, while keeping your classroom calm and consistent.

4. Celebrate the Small Wins

It’s easy to get caught up in the endless to-do list, but autumn is a good moment to pause and recognise the little victories: a pupil remembering their reading record all week, or a quiet child putting their hand up for the first time. Acknowledging these small wins keeps motivation high – and they add up to big changes over the term.

5. Refresh Your Reward Systems

By now, you’ll have a feel for what motivates your pupils. Autumn is the perfect time to check if your current systems are still working. Are your stickers running low? Is the reward chart gathering dust? Giving things a little seasonal twist – whether it’s pumpkin-themed rewards, or simply switching things up – can rekindle excitement and keep pupils engaged.

Autumn can be a whirlwind, but you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. With a few seasonal updates and some thoughtful tweaks, you can keep your classroom calm, organised, and full of motivation right through to the Christmas countdown.