staff wellbeing

[HettyD]

My school is restarting the staff wellbeing committee and is asking for ideas of things that would make a real difference to staff - anyone got any ideas of things that really work for you?

[bloodyteenagers]

Yes, actually asked the people what they want.
We aren't. I am fed up of doing the same forced shit. I have complained. I have come up with alternatives. As have others, including costs which with some things have been zero. But because someone who organises it likes it all, then screw the rest of us.

[Cetti]

The SLT supporting a centralised behaviour management policy.

Properly thought out initiatives which result in the children actually doing some work and/or less wasting of teacher time.

Currently doing supply in secondaries round here and am boggled at how different they are and how delusional some SLTs are. Have reached a state of total disillusionment with Ofsted as many reports appear to be works of fiction.

After that toilets with toilet paper and soap. Complementary tea and coffee.

[PhyllisDietrichson]

I ran a creative after school club for the staff wellbeing and we had great fun after school drinking tea and making nice things. Sadly only LSAs and techies had the time to attend but it was still really rewarding for me and they said they loved it.

[MummySparkle]

I would like to be paid for the amount of hours that I actually need to get the job done. I'm a technician on a 15hr contract and it is impossible to get everything done in 15hrs. I've just started running. An after school club which takes up 2 hrs of my technician time (1 for the club, 1 for prep / tidying). But I still have the same amount of technician stuff to do in the same time. I end up staying late most nights.

Heating in our classroom. It's been broken over a year. We have 2 wall mounted fan heaters, but one very large double-height classroom with lots of windows on 2 of the walls and the heaters aren't far below the ceiling.

A laptop that actually works rather than wasting hours just trying to check my emails

Access to the school car park after hours / weekends as free town centre parking.

[justtheonethen]

My head has announced we are having "wellness week" next week. This seems to solely involve wanting everyone to leave by 4 but no reduction in workload

[mercifulTehlu]

Imo nobody but the government can do anything about the things which would REALLY make teachers' wellbeing better.

[mercifulTehlu]

A school I worked at sent out a staff wellbeing questionnaire. It made me . They just wanted to pacify staff with cake and gimmicks in the desperate hope that they'd shut up complaining about all the things that are actually wrong with the job.

[Snazarooney]

Watching with interest. I want to be in a position to suggest things that make a real difference and not gimmicky things too.

[Haggisfish]

We devolve an inset day in november to evenings throughout year, so we get a three day weekend in november. Helps break that looong term up and we can go Christmas shopping!

[justtheonethen]

Well being day sounds fabulous.

I'm currently trying to think of ideas for staff well being in our school so watching this with interest.

To be honest what our staff need is consistent management as we have had multiple heads over last 3 years and therefore constantly changing policies when new head wants to make their mark with little regard to if the marking/monitoring/behaviour policy actually needs to change. I'm feeling horribly frustrated and demotivated at the moment and regretting going back in to teaching despite absolutely loving actual teaching. Not loving the extra hours wasted making sure everything is in a specific font that's only on half the computers at school for example!

Essay sorry, but by god that was cathartic!

[Ain626]

I think I need a well being day...

I think maybe I need some sort of training on how to be more productive with my time and how to prioritise what is really important. And then to not get slated for the things I haven't done or that aren't done as well as I would have liked.

I love my job, but am feeling totally demotivated right now.

[DanyellasDonkey]

Agreed re behaviour Liesl

Although our HT is great in many ways, behaviour back-up is not one of her strong points. I had the worst experience in 30 years' teaching with a P6 boy absolutely defying me and being unbelievably rude to me -
his punishmentt? Helping the P2s with their craft work

[clam]

I agree, Liesl. I'll sort my own ironing out (or make dh do it) and I can fund my own manicures/massages if I want them.

But the things I mentioned about my HT back up the top of the thread make a real difference to workload and attitudes along with the lorry-load of wine provided by the HT at the Xmas staff do.

[casthom]

I know of one school where every member of staff is entitled to one "well-being" day a year. This is a day of whenever they choose. Lots of the staff use it for birthdays others use it for their own children's sports days or celebrations.

[BossWitch]

I heard of a secondary school which paid for a ironing (and possibly laundry?) service for its staff. But I think the head also made all staff reapply for their jobs every year! Swings and roundabouts I suppose!

[elephantoverthehill]

I hate ironing, but I would not mind being paid to do all the local schools teachers' ironing. How much is this person paid?

[ArmchairTraveller]

Sorry, elephant and leccy. I posted when I read the OP and then read the rest of the thread.
The continuous hypocrisy of so many leaders and SLT members makes me see through a mist of rage.

[ArmchairTraveller]

How about two stars and a wish every time someone on the SLT 'wants a word' or has 'a new initiative' to discuss?
Treat the staff with the same positive, encouraging and considerate attitude that the children are supposed to receive.

[elephantoverthehill]

OMG Someone ironing? My SMT don't even know that this needs to be done weekends are for marking and planning.

[HettyD]

Thanks everyone, these are all fabulous ideas. We already have some of them but I will suggest others. Fwiw a primary near us employs an ironer one day of week, staff bring in ironing and she stands in the staffroom and does it!! Thought that was a fab idea of practical help!

[DanyellasDonkey]

Our HT is also very good at giving staff time off for family things. She also stated that (after a year of people moaning) that if anyone had a problem, they had to come to her with it - working really well so far,

If we have meetings or CPD, the starting and finishing time is clearly set out and even if we're not finished by then, it gets carried forward to the next meeting. Such a change from a previous school where staff meetings could go on from 3.15 to 5.45 and everyone was too scared to say anything. I was made to feel like a slacker when I excused myself at 4.30

[leccybill]

Totally agree with elephantoverthehill.
We are constantly reminded and trained to praise, praise, praise and 'catch them being good' whereas the climate in schools is to 'catch the teachers being bad'/look for faults. It's so negative.

[elephantoverthehill]

I just find that there are double standards. Teachers are constantly reminded to exude 'positivity' to students but are constantly told by management/ Ofsted / Government that their efforts are not good enough. I had feedback from my Head for a lesson observation recently. It was very detailed and negative. It was not in line with the marking policy at all. No green comments for me, all pink!