Mental health and wellbeing should be a priority for the entire school community, extending beyond pupils and regular teaching staff to encompass everyone involved in the educational process.
However, we know in practice that the valuable contribution of supply staff can be overlooked when time is at a premium and there are multiple priorities to juggle.
This may leave supply staff feeling under-appreciated or under-valued, affecting their mental health, levels of motivation, or even having an impact on their ability to effectively support pupils.
In this article I would like to offer schools some suggestions on ways to support supply staff, looking at what we should do to help them stay mentally well in our school setting.
It may be that your school is implementing some of these practices already, but if not don’t be alarmed – you are making a start by simply assessing your approach.
Make psychological safety a priority
Psychological safety is vital for the wellbeing of all school staff. It is about staff being able to reduce their stress, feeling valued, having open and honest discussions, being able to say “no” without fear of retribution, and ultimately being able to do their jobs well.
It is important in contexts where there is frequent change, where workloads are high, and where good team dynamics can make a huge difference to people’s performance.
Creating a culture of psychological safety requires approaches and activities that involve and have an impact on every staff member, including supply staff.
Being a leader who creates a psychologically safe work environment is about how you act, what sort of relationships you build, and being honest. Education Support has published a short online guide and audit tool focused on how to build psychological safety in schools – a link is provided at the end of this article.
So, in this context how can schools best support the mental wellbeing of supply staff?
Work/life balance
Promote a healthy work/life balance – even if it is just for one day! Supply staff are only human. There is only so much they can do in the time they have. And we know a number of education professionals choose to go into supply work in order to improve their work/life balance.
Has a finish time each day been agreed? Are all staff encouraged to stick to it? What about taking their entire lunch break? The reality is if supply staff are to look after and provide the best learning experience for pupils, they have to spend time refuelling and looking after their health and wellbeing too.
Role-model wellbeing behaviour
School leaders and colleagues can support supply staff in maintaining a healthy work/life balance by role-modelling healthy working practices such as leaving work on time, taking allocated breaks, and working within their contracted hours.
If mental and emotional health become a priority to leaders – and they are able to role-model that behaviour – it can quickly spread throughout the school community.
Take time to check-in
Coming into a new environment can be daunting, even for the most experienced education professional. Leaders making time to check-in with supply staff at the start of the day and letting them know they are there for them can help ease their mind. Colleagues simply introducing themselves and asking about their day can make a difference.
Celebrate achievements
Sharing and celebrating any positive achievements or comments (however big or small) with supply staff can have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Knowing they are making a difference in the lives of pupils and that colleagues recognise and appreciate their efforts is important and makes it more likely they will want to return to your school in the future.
Signpost to Education Support
A simple way to show supply staff that your school is serious about their mental health is by signposting to Education Support services as soon as they arrive.
Education Support is a UK charity dedicated to supporting the mental health of everyone working in education – including supply staff. This includes our website, which offers a range of free guides, videos and a wellbeing toolkit for supply staff. We also have our helpline. Teachers do not need to be in crisis to talk with qualified counsellors about anything they are experiencing.
Final thoughts
Following these steps will not only help better support all colleagues at your school, it will make it more likely that great supply staff will return next time cover is needed.
It will also impact the reputation of your school in the wider community, potentially making you a more attractive employer to new recruits in the future.
- Emily Kenneally is the content and media manager at Education Support, a UK charity dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the education workforce. For previous Headteacher Update articles from Education Support, visit www.headteacher-update.com/authors/education-support-uk
Headteacher Update Spring Term Edition 2024
- This article first appeared in Headteacher Update's Spring Term Edition 2024. This edition was sent free of charge to UK primary schools in January. A free-to-access digital edition is also available via www.headteacher-update.com/content/downloads
Further information & resources
- Education Support offers help or advice on any issue facing those working in education. Contact the free 24-hour helpline on 08000 562 561 or www.educationsupport.org.uk
- Education Support: At the moment, supply staff in Wales can sign up to peer support groups at no cost to them. They will join a community of other supply staff in Wales to talk about the challenges unique to their role: www.educationsupport.org.uk/peer-support
- Education Support: Psychological Safety Guide: https://tinyurl.com/3bnsuzv5