Richard Elam
@verandathought.bsky.social
Part-time Deputy Head in one northern primary school.
Safeguarding Governor in another.
Thursdays are just for me and my little one.
That guy who used to work in Seychelles.
Starting a 24th year working in schools - TA, teacher, SLT, Deputy, Governor...
Safeguarding Governor in another.
Thursdays are just for me and my little one.
That guy who used to work in Seychelles.
Starting a 24th year working in schools - TA, teacher, SLT, Deputy, Governor...
Some days I think going part time was the best work decision I ever had.
Other days, I know it was.
Other days, I know it was.
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Some days I think going part time was the best work decision I ever had.
Other days, I know it was.
Other days, I know it was.
"Daddy!! I do your work!"
Sure mate, after staring at the screen all day, you'll probably do a better job answering these NPQ questions anyway.
Sure mate, after staring at the screen all day, you'll probably do a better job answering these NPQ questions anyway.
September 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"Daddy!! I do your work!"
Sure mate, after staring at the screen all day, you'll probably do a better job answering these NPQ questions anyway.
Sure mate, after staring at the screen all day, you'll probably do a better job answering these NPQ questions anyway.
Saw this and chuckled; then thought...
The World Cup lasts 4 weeks.
Fathers in the UK get 2 weeks of statutory leave.
So the situation in the UK is that a football tournament lasts longer than the time a dad is given to bond with his newborn child and support his family.
The World Cup lasts 4 weeks.
Fathers in the UK get 2 weeks of statutory leave.
So the situation in the UK is that a football tournament lasts longer than the time a dad is given to bond with his newborn child and support his family.
September 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Saw this and chuckled; then thought...
The World Cup lasts 4 weeks.
Fathers in the UK get 2 weeks of statutory leave.
So the situation in the UK is that a football tournament lasts longer than the time a dad is given to bond with his newborn child and support his family.
The World Cup lasts 4 weeks.
Fathers in the UK get 2 weeks of statutory leave.
So the situation in the UK is that a football tournament lasts longer than the time a dad is given to bond with his newborn child and support his family.
Not quite as relaxing with a two-year old, but equally as revitalising. 😍
August 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Not quite as relaxing with a two-year old, but equally as revitalising. 😍
Gorgeous, isn't it? One of my favourite places.
August 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Gorgeous, isn't it? One of my favourite places.
@teachertapp.bsky.social I'd love to know the difference being a parent makes to this.
My answer is *very* different now to what it would have been before the little terror arrived on the scene.
My answer is *very* different now to what it would have been before the little terror arrived on the scene.
August 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
@teachertapp.bsky.social I'd love to know the difference being a parent makes to this.
My answer is *very* different now to what it would have been before the little terror arrived on the scene.
My answer is *very* different now to what it would have been before the little terror arrived on the scene.
PAPYRUS, like all charities I guess, are the expert help you hope you never need, but their support has proved invaluable in the past to my colleagues.
Please, please help them be able to offer support when it is desperately needed in the future.
Please, please help them be able to offer support when it is desperately needed in the future.
August 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
PAPYRUS, like all charities I guess, are the expert help you hope you never need, but their support has proved invaluable in the past to my colleagues.
Please, please help them be able to offer support when it is desperately needed in the future.
Please, please help them be able to offer support when it is desperately needed in the future.
Pasty faced Northerner who usually holidays in the Highlands Of Scotland asking for help!
🥵🥵🥵
🥵🥵🥵
August 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Pasty faced Northerner who usually holidays in the Highlands Of Scotland asking for help!
🥵🥵🥵
🥵🥵🥵
I don't think the French hold much regard for Spanish wine.
At £1.20 a bottle, I'm prepared to take one for the team.
At £1.20 a bottle, I'm prepared to take one for the team.
August 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I don't think the French hold much regard for Spanish wine.
At £1.20 a bottle, I'm prepared to take one for the team.
At £1.20 a bottle, I'm prepared to take one for the team.
@teachertapp.bsky.social
Does it count that two girls in a previous class were cousins with identical twin mothers... and no one had told me!!!
Cut to five mins into parents evening and, "I'm glad my niece is doing so well, but how's my daughter doing?"
Does it count that two girls in a previous class were cousins with identical twin mothers... and no one had told me!!!
Cut to five mins into parents evening and, "I'm glad my niece is doing so well, but how's my daughter doing?"
August 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
@teachertapp.bsky.social
Does it count that two girls in a previous class were cousins with identical twin mothers... and no one had told me!!!
Cut to five mins into parents evening and, "I'm glad my niece is doing so well, but how's my daughter doing?"
Does it count that two girls in a previous class were cousins with identical twin mothers... and no one had told me!!!
Cut to five mins into parents evening and, "I'm glad my niece is doing so well, but how's my daughter doing?"
No, where's your head at?
July 13, 2025 at 7:41 PM
No, where's your head at?
First hill session for a couple of years.
My legs now hate me.
My legs now hate me.
July 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
First hill session for a couple of years.
My legs now hate me.
My legs now hate me.
"Teach a lesson"
But where @teachertapp.bsky.social?
Very different asking an applicant to teach a random lesson to an unknown class compared to visiting them in their own school, teaching their class.
But where @teachertapp.bsky.social?
Very different asking an applicant to teach a random lesson to an unknown class compared to visiting them in their own school, teaching their class.
June 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"Teach a lesson"
But where @teachertapp.bsky.social?
Very different asking an applicant to teach a random lesson to an unknown class compared to visiting them in their own school, teaching their class.
But where @teachertapp.bsky.social?
Very different asking an applicant to teach a random lesson to an unknown class compared to visiting them in their own school, teaching their class.
Favourite place.
Favourite person.
🩵🤍🩷
Favourite person.
🩵🤍🩷
May 28, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Favourite place.
Favourite person.
🩵🤍🩷
Favourite person.
🩵🤍🩷
When Mummy has heard the word, “No!” once too often.
May 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
When Mummy has heard the word, “No!” once too often.
Current view. Happy place.
May 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Current view. Happy place.
"You're late."
"Well done, however it's not important that you were protecting your three younger siblings while mum and dad smashed up the flat fighting."
"You're 8, you say? So what?"
"You haven't eaten since school lunch yesterday?"
"Crying now?"
"You need more Grit, sonny!"
"Well done, however it's not important that you were protecting your three younger siblings while mum and dad smashed up the flat fighting."
"You're 8, you say? So what?"
"You haven't eaten since school lunch yesterday?"
"Crying now?"
"You need more Grit, sonny!"
May 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
"You're late."
"Well done, however it's not important that you were protecting your three younger siblings while mum and dad smashed up the flat fighting."
"You're 8, you say? So what?"
"You haven't eaten since school lunch yesterday?"
"Crying now?"
"You need more Grit, sonny!"
"Well done, however it's not important that you were protecting your three younger siblings while mum and dad smashed up the flat fighting."
"You're 8, you say? So what?"
"You haven't eaten since school lunch yesterday?"
"Crying now?"
"You need more Grit, sonny!"
May 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A fabulous first trip to @darlingreads.bsky.social, our new go to indie bookshop.
Thank you for being so welcoming as the little one systematically dismantled every display!!
Then it was off to the woods with our new purchases.
A pretty good way to spend my day off. 🩵🩷📚
Thank you for being so welcoming as the little one systematically dismantled every display!!
Then it was off to the woods with our new purchases.
A pretty good way to spend my day off. 🩵🩷📚
May 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A fabulous first trip to @darlingreads.bsky.social, our new go to indie bookshop.
Thank you for being so welcoming as the little one systematically dismantled every display!!
Then it was off to the woods with our new purchases.
A pretty good way to spend my day off. 🩵🩷📚
Thank you for being so welcoming as the little one systematically dismantled every display!!
Then it was off to the woods with our new purchases.
A pretty good way to spend my day off. 🩵🩷📚
Oh... Oh... Oh...
I forgot about the utterly brilliant Knightmare!
I forgot about the utterly brilliant Knightmare!
April 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Oh... Oh... Oh...
I forgot about the utterly brilliant Knightmare!
I forgot about the utterly brilliant Knightmare!
Part-time deputy day with my side-kick.
There's something magical about an English woodland, especially if it has its own library.
There's something magical about an English woodland, especially if it has its own library.
April 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Part-time deputy day with my side-kick.
There's something magical about an English woodland, especially if it has its own library.
There's something magical about an English woodland, especially if it has its own library.
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to TripAdvisor.
5. Calo Des Moro beach
4. Soller town
3. Bellver Castle
2. Aquarium
🏆 Cathedral
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to a two year old.
5. Police Car
4. Water splash (fountain)
3. Bin Lorry! Bin Lorry!
2. PIGEON!!!
🏆 Horsey on big TV!
5. Calo Des Moro beach
4. Soller town
3. Bellver Castle
2. Aquarium
🏆 Cathedral
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to a two year old.
5. Police Car
4. Water splash (fountain)
3. Bin Lorry! Bin Lorry!
2. PIGEON!!!
🏆 Horsey on big TV!
April 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to TripAdvisor.
5. Calo Des Moro beach
4. Soller town
3. Bellver Castle
2. Aquarium
🏆 Cathedral
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to a two year old.
5. Police Car
4. Water splash (fountain)
3. Bin Lorry! Bin Lorry!
2. PIGEON!!!
🏆 Horsey on big TV!
5. Calo Des Moro beach
4. Soller town
3. Bellver Castle
2. Aquarium
🏆 Cathedral
Top 5 things to see in Palma according to a two year old.
5. Police Car
4. Water splash (fountain)
3. Bin Lorry! Bin Lorry!
2. PIGEON!!!
🏆 Horsey on big TV!
Car: 6 mins
Cycle: 7 mins
Walk: 26 mins
Walk with a two year old who insists on left foot hopping: 1 hour 5 mins
🙄
Cycle: 7 mins
Walk: 26 mins
Walk with a two year old who insists on left foot hopping: 1 hour 5 mins
🙄
April 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Car: 6 mins
Cycle: 7 mins
Walk: 26 mins
Walk with a two year old who insists on left foot hopping: 1 hour 5 mins
🙄
Cycle: 7 mins
Walk: 26 mins
Walk with a two year old who insists on left foot hopping: 1 hour 5 mins
🙄
@teachertapp.bsky.social
Struggled to answer this.
I returned earlier than I would have liked, but not for financial reasons, purely because my leave expired.
My child was still in hospital when my paternity leave ended, I would have loved to have been able to support my family for longer.
Struggled to answer this.
I returned earlier than I would have liked, but not for financial reasons, purely because my leave expired.
My child was still in hospital when my paternity leave ended, I would have loved to have been able to support my family for longer.
March 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
@teachertapp.bsky.social
Struggled to answer this.
I returned earlier than I would have liked, but not for financial reasons, purely because my leave expired.
My child was still in hospital when my paternity leave ended, I would have loved to have been able to support my family for longer.
Struggled to answer this.
I returned earlier than I would have liked, but not for financial reasons, purely because my leave expired.
My child was still in hospital when my paternity leave ended, I would have loved to have been able to support my family for longer.