CYP Now - Resources: Review - An inspirational look at school work

If you are one of those people who goes into schools from time to time, rather than being there for the major part of the working week, Oranges and Lemons is a useful kaleidoscope of a child's world in a 21st century British school. Author Wendy Wallace gives a vision of a school with dignity - the staff, the children, the parents, everyone.

Wallace, a journalist, spent a day a week for a year in a tough innerLondon primary school, as a participant observer, much like ananthropologist.

Her colourful descriptions of what she observed and how she analysed itare set out in 12 relatively short chapters, which have delightfulheadings including Purple Nursery, Green Jelly, Brown Eyes and In theBlack. And although those sound a bit light hearted, they in factdescribe deep problems, and creative solutions.

She covers each year group from nursery visits to final concert beforemoving on to secondary school. Not everything goes right in the school,but much goes extraordinarily well in difficult circumstances.

Major issues are tackled, such as public policy, school budgets, staffsickness, children with distressing problems, diversity, English as asecond language, what inclusion means for a girl in Year 4, schooldinners and breakfast clubs to mention a few. Wallace's ability todescribe how she tried to understand these issues, as well as headteacher Sean O'Regan's passion and commitment, must inspire us all to beequally passionate and creative about the way we work with children.

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