5 Top Tips to Support Your Staff at the End of Term

The days are hot and long, it’s not quite late enough in the term to abandon lessons for extra rounders, despite popular public belief, you are not ‘winding down’.

Instead, the timetable is as busy as ever with transitions, sports days and productions. Less structure also means more planning for those whose needs don’t appreciate a change in routine.

Teachers’ minds move to next year. SLT desperately consider who works well (and doesn’t work well together), as well as attempting to distribute experience to ensure that at least someone might know what they are doing in September!

What can leaders do to support their teams at the end of term?

Having been on both sides of the fence, both waiting with trepidation for September plans to be announced and also part of the planning process, here are my 5 top tips.

1. Let people know where they will be working ASAP – I worked in one establishment where the LSA team still didn’t know on September 4th what class they would be in! Let staff know as soon as possible to alleviate any worries about change and allow them to plan for next year.

2. Classroom changes – where staff are changing rooms, make it a team effort and give them time to do it. The children also love to help, so allow staff to get them to help to carry things. Provide time to get going with displays. It’s not right for staff to give up their summer to sort out their classroom.

3. Transition conversations – ensure time is given to staff to find out about their new cohorts, read paperwork and liaise with previous teachers, especially for pupils with additional needs.

4. Planning time in new teams – help staff be prepared by allowing them to work in their new team and plan ahead sufficiently. Even if you give them twice as much time as usual, it won’t be enough!

5. Heat – make an effort to keep classrooms cool. No one can complain they are hot until they’ve attempted to teach 30 sweaty children in temperatures over 35°. Invest in fans and put in a plan for air con in the future as it’s getting hotter! No one can function at their best if they are overheating.

Finally, keep asking staff what would help them and remember your staff, just like the children, have individual needs as well to ensure that they can give their best.

The author

Lynn How

Lynn has been teaching for 20 years during which time she has been an Assistant Head and a Lead Mentor at a Teacher Training institution. Currently, she is working as a SENCO. She loves to write, including research, children‘s poetry and she has an MA in Education, NASENCO and NPQH. Lynn’s particular areas of interest are wellbeing (staff and pupil), SEND, children’s mental health, leadership, mentoring and coaching. She has written for Teacher Toolkit and has her own blog www.positiveyoungmind.com. The site hosts a range of articles, resources and info graphics on all things SEMH - including educator wellbeing. She also has a coaching group with free monthly events: www.facebook.com/groups/coachingforteacherwellbeing/ In her leisure time, she loves to spend time with her family and in the great outdoors walking and climbing. She is also a Scout climbing instructor and assessor. Her children are 10 and 6 and therefore she can appreciate first-hand the pressure children, educators and parents are under!

https://positiveyoungmind.com/