ABSTRACT
Seating plans are useful, if not essential. They undoubtedly help inspectors and observers find their way around the class, and they serve as useful reminders to the teacher of the needs of individual pupils. However, for the vast majority of the time, they will languish in the teacher’s folder on his or her desk. The real advantage of seating plans, of course, is that they encourage teachers to sit and think about the best place for each pupil, both to minimise disruption and to maximise learning. Increasingly sophisticated commercial packages are now available, which help teachers produce seating plans which are both detailed and up to date. Some of them also draw on behaviour records to suggest the most effective seating plans to minimise disruption. An inspector armed with a seating plan can quickly find pupil premium pupils, looked after children (LACs), those with special needs etc. and they can move around the class much more easily.
