Surviving the Final Half Term in EYFS: A Blog Post by Sophie @mrsg_ eyfs
There comes a point near the end of every school year when EYFS teachers reach a unique state of being. Your to-do list seems endless. Reports need writing, resources need organising, celebration assemblies need rehearsing, and transitions need planning—not only for the children moving on, but also for the new cohort waiting in the wings. You’re preparing to welcome one group while saying goodbye to another. Hectic is certainly one word that comes to mind. Tired is another.
Yet amidst the chaos, something magical happens.
The children who arrived in September clutching tightly to their grown-ups, unable to zip up a coat or find their peg, are suddenly confident, independent learners, ready for their next adventure. They are ready for Year 1. You find yourself enthusiastically telling their new teacher about everything they can do, sharing stories of their progress and reflecting on just how far they have come.
This is what I try to hold onto as I navigate this whirlwind of a half term. When the workload feels relentless, I remind myself that I have taught, nurtured and supported these children to achieve incredible things. Their growth isn’t accidental—it’s the result of months of learning, encouragement, perseverance and care.
As I sit down to write this blog, I’m reflecting on everything the last few weeks have involved, and it’s no wonder we feel exhausted. Sports Day, transition days, nursery visits, village shows, carnivals, school trips, reports, safeguarding concerns and meetings with professionals—the list goes on. Lately, I’ve found myself operating in survival mode, and it’s not a place where I feel comfortable.
I’m someone who likes to be organised. I like being ahead of deadlines, having resources prepared and knowing exactly what’s happening the next day. The anxiety that comes with not having everything ready can feel overwhelming. But at this time of year, I’m not only preparing for the next cohort as a teacher; I’m also supporting my own children through their transitions, clubs, performances and social commitments. There are a lot of plates spinning, and the reality is that sometimes one of them has to wobble.
This week, that plate has been labels.
Is labelling next year’s books a priority right now? No.
Am I going to run myself into the ground trying to get it done immediately? Also no.
Learning to accept that I might not reach the bottom of the to-do list before the summer holidays is a challenge. As teachers, we’re often hardwired to keep going, to tick off one more task, to squeeze a little more into the day. But perhaps one of the most important lessons we can learn at this time of year is that it’s okay if some things wait.
The children won’t remember whether every label was stuck neatly into place before the end of term. They will remember the Sports Day races, the trips, the stories, the laughter and the relationships we’ve built together. And when I look at it that way, I realise that the most important things are already done.
It’s easy at this time of year to focus on the tasks that still need doing. As soon as one deadline passes, another quickly takes its place. Recently, one of those deadlines has been submitting our data to the local authority.
But for me, the real achievements can’t be captured in a spreadsheet or reduced to a number for someone sitting in an office who doesn’t know the children in front of me.
The real achievements are found elsewhere.
They’re in the child who once refused to speak in front of a group but now confidently stands up to share news about her weekend. They’re in the child who arrives at school with a smile after weeks of tearful goodbyes. They’re in the child who started the year knowing no one and now leaves with strong, meaningful friendships. These are the moments that matter most to me, and you won’t find them neatly recorded in an online assessment folder.
Despite the exhaustion that often comes with this point in the year, there is something truly special about being an Early Years teacher. We have the privilege of supporting children through their first experiences of school, witnessing those important milestones and celebrating every success alongside them. We are there for the first friendships, the first moments of independence and the first real glimpses of what these children are capable of.
When I think back to September, it’s hard to believe that this is the same class. This cohort needed significant support with building friendships, managing disagreements and developing their independence. In September, many found it difficult to share resources, resolve minor conflicts or complete simple tasks without adult support. Now, I look around the room and see resilient, confident and curious learners who are ready for their next chapter. Their journey hasn’t always been straightforward, but the progress they’ve made is remarkable.
Amidst all of this, we also need to remember to look after ourselves. Every day, we tell children that it’s okay to make mistakes, that they don’t need to be perfect and that challenges help us grow. But do we give ourselves the same grace? If I’m honest, probably not.
So, if you can, take ten minutes for yourself. Read a book. Go for a walk. Sit in the garden with a cup of tea. Step away from the laptop, silence the to-do list for a moment and allow yourself to breathe.
And if you’re reading this with a desk piled high with paperwork, a classroom that still needs sorting and a mental checklist longer than you’d like to admit, take a moment to pause.
Look at the children around you.
Look at how far they have come.
The labels can wait. The cupboards can wait. The resources will still be there tomorrow.
What you’ve already achieved this year is extraordinary, and that deserves to be recognised and celebrated.
So, if, like me, you’re simply trying to survive the final half term in EYFS, remember this: the paperwork will eventually get finished, the labels will get stuck in, and the cupboards will get organised.
But the difference you’ve made to the children in your care has already happened.
And that’s the achievement worth celebrating.
After all, the most important things we do in Early Years can’t always be measured—but they can be seen in every child’s smile, confidence and willingness to take on whatever comes next.
MrsG has been teaching in Primary Schools, specialising in EYFS and KS1 for the last 13 years. She has taught across both key stages working as an Assistant Head, before heading back into the classroom full time after having her children. MrsG is now Senior Teacher in a small school, where she teaches in EYFS. She also works with ECTs supporting them with planning, workload, job applications and interview technique through her Instagram account instagram.com/mrsg_eyfs