Our Little Treasure by Isobel Randall

'Our Little Treasure' is a light-hearted yet illuminating account of supply teaching in the English Midlands in the first decade of the twenty-first century. The 'little treasure' worked at 77 junior and senior schools and her experiences, both amusing and painful, help to illuminate aspects of schooling in Britain. The author also describes her contrasting experiences as a teacher in South Africa over the past half-century.

Okay, so I realise that this is probably never a book you would expect me to read. And to be honest I wouldn't have given it even a first look if it hadn't been written by my darling Great Aunt, who I met recently at my grandfather's 80th and who I absolutely adore.

And I absolutely loved reading this. It is fascinating and funny. And maybe it's because I can hear her voice as I read it, but really, I would recommend this (although it's probably unlikely you'll be able to get your hands on it, I gather it was a limited print run ... but I have a signed copy!). And I will definitely NOT be sending my kid to any school in England, that is for sure. Haha. Not, I'm guessing, the intended result of reading this, but still.