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TL;DR:
January can feel like a fresh start — but after the Christmas break, pupils and teachers often need structure, calm and clarity more than anything. This January classroom reset plan breaks your first week back into practical, 15-minute tasks you can use each day to rebuild routines, re-energise the class, and start the new term smoothly. Perfect for long-term teachers, TAs and supply educators.
The return in January brings a mix of excitement, disrupted routines and post-holiday fatigue. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation shows that consistent routines and simple, predictable structures help re-engage pupils and reduce low-level behaviour after breaks.
Source: EEF – Behaviour Guidance Report
A strong January classroom reset plan isn’t about reinventing your classroom — it’s about small, purposeful steps that make the first week calmer and more productive.
If you’re stepping into a new class or new role, you may also find this helpful:
👉 The Essential Documents Every Supply Educator Needs
A strong start creates a calm trajectory for the whole week.
More on pupil support here:
👉 Empowering Educators: Supporting Every Child
Arrival routines increase focus and lower behaviour incidents — especially after long breaks.
You don’t need a full classroom makeover. Just the essentials.
Linked HSE guidance on safe classroom layout:
Source: Health and Safety Executive – Classrooms
Even if you taught routines in September, January resets are essential.
The EEF highlights that routine re-teaching improves behaviour outcomes within days.
A small relational reset goes a long way.
If you’re supporting wellbeing in your team, here’s a companion read:
👉 Why Your Wellbeing Matters More Than Ever
The first lesson back shouldn’t be heavy content.
This is especially useful for anyone doing back-to-school supply teaching at short notice.
A free printable kit to support your first week:
✔ Arrival routine template
✔ First lesson back structure
✔ Quick behaviour reset guide
✔ Classroom materials checklist
✔ 15-minute daily plan
✔ TA and supply notes section
Your January classroom reset plan doesn’t need to be complicated.
It just needs to be consistent, calm and achievable.
Use these 15-minute steps each day, keep routines tight, and build connection early — and you’ll feel the difference by the end of the first week.
If you want to explore roles for January, check out our latest insights:
👉 Why Teachers Apply to Your Vacancies (And Why They Don’t)
Use a short, structured January classroom reset plan — arrival routines, a first lesson template, and a materials checklist.
They create immediate calm, reduce anxiety, and help re-establish expectations after the break, backed by findings from the Education Endowment Foundation.
Pens, whiteboard markers, behaviour system notes, quick starter activities, a printed timetable, and a simple backup lesson.
A low-stakes, relationship-focused, routine-reinforcing lesson works best — retrieval warm-ups + clear expectations.
Yes — our January Teacher Starter Kit includes a printable 1-page version for supply staff and busy educators.
