Issue 31, Pages 10-11: Why wellbeing matters

The Teacher Wellbeing Index (2023) (1) reports a continuing decline in the wellbeing of education staff in the UK and highlights the crisis schools are facing in recruiting and retaining their most valuable resource, their staff. Having spent over 30 years working in schools, I have seen first-hand the decline in the wellbeing of staff in the education sector which invariably has an impact on the quality of education we bring to our students through high staff turnover, high levels of teacher stress and staff absence.

SENDCos can experience a high level of stress. Working with external agencies, managing and writing EHCP reviews, working with tight budgets, and utilising scarce resources all add to the stress of their already challenging job. Furthermore, carrying the burden of the emotional labour they use each day, supporting pupils whose needs will always require more intervention, more funding and more time, it can be difficult for both teaching and support staff ‘switch off’. So, how can we redress the balance and improve the working conditions for all staff in education?

It is not an easy mind-shift to make staff wellbeing a priority as it sits awkwardly with our core belief that the ‘pupils come first’ yet it is only by nurturing a genuinely positive culture of staff wellbeing that we deliver the outstanding education to our children. The challenge is how to develop an authentic and deeply embedded culture of staff wellbeing so that all staff, regardless of their role, are valued and nurtured. Staff wellbeing is not ad hoc; it’s not cake in the staffroom, it’s not the odd free yoga sessions. It is a culture.

Changing an organisational culture is challenging but there are lots of ways to affect change, and this must come from the top. Schools with a genuinely positive staff wellbeing, have leaders who believe. Their first step could be to appoint a Wellbeing Champion or Ambassador whose remit is to affect change to a culture of wellbeing for all staff and be the cornerstone of change by running wellbeing groups, promoting positive mental health to ensure longevity in their profession for all staff. Alongside this deeper cultural shift, sits our own personal responsibility to manage our own wellbeing, and there are lots of things we can each do to be our very best both at work and in our personal lives.

TOP TIPS To manage wellbeing

Review your workload: Over the course of a week, make a note of the things that you find stressful or challenging. Reflect on this and discuss it with your line manager to see if you can find solutions.

Wellbeing groups: Consider forming a wellbeing group in your team and discuss ways to improve your wellbeing at a departmental level.

Research: Look at other organisations and see how they are implementing positive wellbeing strategies that you could embrace.

Take a break: I can hear the collective ‘if only’ as you read this, however, taking even a short break away from your classroom or office can have a significant impact on your wellbeing during the day.

Micro-meditation: Research shows that the brain needs just 27 seconds of calm to start bringing your cortisol levels down, and we can all find 27 seconds! Place your hands over your eyes to remove visual stimulation and just focus on your breathing for 27 seconds.

Intentional movement: It may seem counterintuitive to bring in yet more movement, but intentionally stretching whilst the kettle boils or taking a short walk at breaktime can be beneficial.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of our thoughts and feelings without judgment or distraction. Try meditation, or breathwork, reading a book or enjoying a cup of good coffee.

Habit stacking: Add on one small positive habit to something you already do. You may habitually have a coffee at your desk before school starts, so why not do a micro-meditation for 30 seconds too? You may mark books at the end of each day, so why not walk round the playground for five minutes when you finish to clear your mind. Add a new, manageable habit each week.

Talk to someone: You may find talk therapy really beneficial, but you can also just share a chat with a good friend or colleague. Research has shown that social connections are highly important in one’s sense of personal happiness.

Staff wellbeing in schools is fundamental to fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and inclusion, where every staff member feels valued and supported. Collective wellbeing is pivotal in creating stability and longevity of all staff in education. Similarly, individual responsibility for our own wellbeing is equally important. By taking charge of our personal health and happiness, we contribute positively to our school communities and model self-care and resilience for others. These dual aspects of wellbeing enrich the educational experience for everyone, making schools not just places of learning, but nurturing spaces where everyone can flourish.

Still Human delivers workshops to staff in education on a range of health and wellbeing topics, sharing evidence-based knowledge and practical strategies that make being a human a little easier. Find out more at: www.stillhuman.co.uk

1: https://tinyurl.com/5n8jwbz5