Step 1: Rewards of teaching

Introduce the unit (5 minutes), thanking people for their attendance. Invite the headteacher or appropriate member of the leadership team (which may be you) to explain that this training has been initiated for the benefit of staff and the whole-school community.

Impress upon them how much the SLT value their hard work, time and commitment, without which the school would not function.

Invite everyone to stand up and exchange with a colleague one reason why they love being a teacher. If there are signs that they don’t actually love being a teacher any more, ask them to rewind the clock and remember why they became a teacher and what brings them alive in the classroom.

Invite them to do this three times with a different colleague each time, sharing a fresh reason with each. Once seated, invite participants to share so that everyone can be inspired. Write the key words on the flipchart.

When complete, invite participants to share with the person next to them three reasons why their wellbeing is important to each category listed on slide 3. Make sure each person shares.

Explain the value of having the entire staff speaking the same wellbeing language so that it positively impacts the whole-school environment:

Happy teachers = enhanced teaching effectiveness and happy pupils = improved achievement.

Share the SLT mission to prioritise wellbeing to improve work-life balance and raise standards. Recognise why it has been made a priority.