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Staff wellbeing

Below you will find the latest educational best practice articles covering . The role of teachers is constantly evolving as new advice, techniques and technology are implemented within schools, making it essential for staff to stay up-to-date with for the benefit of their pupils.

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Staff wellbeing: Complete the stress cycle and avoid burn-out

Stress hormones have an important job to do, but they are not designed to stay in our systems permanently. Emily Kenneally offers seven ways to complete your stress cycle and three tips to avoid burn-out

Emergencies in school: Preparing for the unknown

All education settings are required to have emergency plans in place. These are designed to help you respond effectively to unforeseen incidents and a range of materials have been published to assist you with this. Suzanne O’Connell takes a look

Cost of living crisis: Conversations with colleagues

The cost of living crisis is biting hard. Pupils, families, and school staff are all suffering. In two articles, Sean Harris considers how to support both pupils and school staff. He concludes here with a focus on how we might respond with colleagues who are struggling

How to create a whole-school culture of mental health

How can senior mental health leads build a team and deliver a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing provision? Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers general principles of practice as well as 26 specific suggestions

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How governors can support whole-school wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing must be at heart of school governance, but how? In an article adapted from her contribution to a new book on effective governance, Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers some pointers and ideas

Working relationships: Dealing with difference

If we want to build better relationships with colleagues, it ultimately starts with us. But dealing with differences and building workplace relationships is not always easy. Leonie Hurrell advises

'If you do that, you’ll be much happier in the job you do'

Primary school professionals – and brothers – Lee and Adam Parkinson’s podcast has been listened to more than five million times. Emma Lee-Potter caught up with them to talk staff wellbeing, advice for new teachers, online safety and more

Simple phrases for calming anxious students

The calm of adults is contagious and can quickly help an anxious or stressed pupil to calm themselves. Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers some practical pointers

How to improve your workplace relationships

People who feel they have a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their roles. Leonie Hurrell looks at how we can build positive and healthy working relationships

Stress, anxiety, and developing our teachers

Stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? If we are to put in place a schools recovery plan to help teaching staff and leaders, we need to know what challenges we are addressing and how to address them. Gareth Conyard reflects on wellbeing and CPD

How governors can support staff wellbeing

How can your school’s governors help to support the wellbeing of your staff? Neil Collins offers some pointer

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: How much does it cost?

So far this year, Shahana Knight has had a great response to her therapeutic classroom diary, but readers are asking one question above all others – how much does it cost?

Staff wellbeing: Which talking therapy is best for you?

As a school leader, do you talk about the pressures you face? Talking helps wellbeing and prevents burn-out. Emily Kenneally considers how you can make time to talk and outlines different types of talking therapy and their uses

Weaving health and safety into school culture

Health and safety needn’t be complex or onerous. It’s about being curious and using common sense, especially when it comes to risk assessments. Stephen Horn offers some advice for school leaders

Mental health: Moving from reactive to proactive support

We consistently talk about proactive, positive solutions for pupils’ physical health. So why can’t we do the same when it comes to their mental health? Headteacher Ben Levinson looks at how schools can ensure a positive focus on mental health

Social media, teachers and schools: How to avoid the pitfalls

Planned changes to safeguarding law could see schools conducting social media checks on prospective teachers. Legal expert Sarah Linden considers the common pitfalls of social media use for teachers…

Could you spot the signs and symptoms of burn-out?

The pandemic has heightened the pressure facing school leaders and teachers, making burn-out a clear and present danger. Wellbeing trainer and author Ross McWilliam looks at spotting the signs

Resignations and retirement: A looming leadership crisis?

There are real fears that the added pressure of Covid-19 will drive many more headteachers to quit. Suzanne O’Connell looks at the barriers we face to headteacher retention and recruitment

Suicide: How to support during crisis moments

Supporting someone – a student or colleague – who is suicidal may feel daunting, but you can make a difference with some small actions. Dr Pooky Knightsmith explains

Five ways schools can commit to good staff mental health

As mental health awareness increases in the wake of the pandemic, Sophie Howells looks at five areas of school life where we can make our commitment to wellbeing evident for all staff

Taking a step back from burn-out...

Burn-out is not inevitable. As a school leader, how do you take care of yourself? Frances Robertson urges you to avoid burn-out by making time to reflect and step back from the chaos...

Self-care isn’t selfish: How to look after yourself

Looking after yourself is not selfish – in fact it is a vital part of being able to perform at your best as a teacher or school leader. As a new school year begins, Sophie Howells reminds us all to prioritise self-care

Wellbeing: How to look after yourself as a headteacher

Whether you are an experienced headteacher or new to the job, Kate Smith shares some strategies and ideas to help you protect your wellbeing in the months ahead

The 5Ps of staff wellbeing

Ahead of her session at our forthcoming Pupil Mental Health online conference, Frederika Roberts explores the five Ps of staff wellbeing and why staff wellbeing is at the heart of whole-school wellbeing

Four ideas to tackle workload in your school

Teacher workloads have always been heavy but the pandemic has added to the strain. Former deputy head Graham Cooper suggests some practical approaches to cut down on time-consuming tasks and give teachers more time

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