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KCSIE 2026 Updates Information Sharing Session

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End-Of-Year To-Do Checklist 2026

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Start Point: New To DSL

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Start Point: AI and Ethical Use in Schools

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Start Point: New To Behaviour Leadership

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Start Point: New To EYFS Leadership

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Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit Briefing 2026

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Start Point: New To Governance

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Start Point: New To SENDCo

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Headteacher Wellbeing Audit and Action Plan

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How Deep Is Your Subject Knowledge? Poster

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Start Point: New To Attendance Leadership

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Budget Planning Checklist and Calendar

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Start Point: New To Pastoral Leadership

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Start Point: New To School Business Management

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Start Point: Supporting a New Governor Checklist

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Christmas and Term End Planning and Preparation Checklist

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Start Point: New To Headship

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Blog

Breaking Point or Breaking Free: What Can Be Done About Wellbeing for School Staff?

If you work in education, it'll come as no shock that Education Support's latest Teacher Wellbeing Index 2023 paints yet another depressing picture of the mental health and wellbeing of all school staff. The full report contains all the findings, but these stood out to us: 🟣 78% of all school staff feel stressed, rising to 89% for senior leaders and a huge 95% for headteachers. 🟣 55% of staff feel their institution's organisation culture has a negative effect on wellbeing. 🟣 46% of staff say their organisations do not support employees well who have mental health and wellbeing problems. I'm someone who's been in this exact position with these exact feelings about school leadership: constant stress, worry, sleepless nights, my heart thudding in my throat about what was coming next, the gnawing pain of a stress-induced stomach ulcer... And when the report was released, I spoke with my wonderful Honeyguide colleagues, Lottie and Tommy, and we recounted similar tails: spending more time at school than at home, being too exhausted in the holidays to function, nearly losing personal relationships... But then the conversation came round to what can we actually do about this? There is a lot of talk about teacher wellbeing and workload, and many great people and educational companies are trying to help with this. In a sense, it's why we started Honeyguide - so that other leaders, particularly those new to the role, had that someone by their side guiding the way. But often, conversations and ideas around improving wellbeing drift back to what we can't actually do anything about in the moment, the chief culprits being: ❌ Government policy ❌ Ofsted ❌ School budgets ❌ The lingering impact of Covid-19 ❌ Underfunded (and sometimes shambolic) local services that are supposed to support schools and pupils If you ever discuss the education sector with colleagues, you can see the statements coming a mile-off (and maybe you even make them yourselves...) "If Ofsted was abolished, there'd be less pressure on schools..." "The impact of Covid has been huge and no-one can see it..." "We need local authority SEND services to support our pupils but there aren't any!" All of these are highly likely to be true but none of them can be changed right this second, and the likelihood is it will take years or even decades for the government-level change that's needed to support schools. So what can we realistically do to support wellbeing in schools? As much as I want to say, "Hey, Honeyguide can solve all of your problems, including the recruitment crisis, the attendance crisis and the staff workload and wellbeing crisis!", that would be a total lie. Because we can't. No single person or company can. But what we can help with is the constant chipping away of solving day-to-day problems by providing resources that will save you time and some headspace. If you've visited us before and browsed our resource store, you'll know we're talking about budget-friendly packs and templates that relieve you of the time pressure of making it all yourself and thinking of all the questions and eventualities. If you're contemplating the picture of mental health and wellbeing in your school, we've got a brilliant audit pack that does just this. No thinking about the questions you need to ask yourselves, just a fully prepared audit template with them all pre-populated. No wondering where to find the information - that's what the document checklist is for. And it contains full guidance and other templates to support the process. See Honeyguide's Mental Health and Wellbeing Audit in our store... What else can school leaders do to support wellbeing in schools? Being a school leader is hard and if you're in a senior position, it can feel like the entire responsibility for everyone (including their actions) rests upon your shoulders. Sometimes the pace of school life is so frantic, it can be impossible to take a moment to reflect on the wellbeing and workload of anyone, let alone yourself. But if you're reading this, it might be worth having a pause to think about the following. 💜 If a pupil came to us saying that they're having a difficult time with their emotions or mental health, what's our response? Is it a different response when staff do this? 💜 Are you a qualified health professional? No? Then signpost staff to support and encourage them to seek professional advice from a qualified health professional. 💜 Are you one of the 95% of heads who feel stressed? HeadsUp4HT are brilliant for coaching, support and advice. 💜 Education Support have a dedicated helpline too, available for any education staff member, past or present. And, as always, we're here to support you in any way we can.

on Nov 15 2023

Blog

How to Plan an Effective INSET Day This September

Having experienced numerous INSET days ourselves, we know that these important team days can evoke a mixture of emotions. With often jam-packed agendas and new learning filled to the brim, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and overloaded. This feeling may be compounded by the realisation that the summer holidays have concluded, and there's a lengthy stretch ahead until Christmas. It's no surprise that these days sometimes elicit a sense of dread, combined with the usual nerves and excitement of a new academic year beginning. So how can you avoid this and instead plan an INSET day that is productive, engaging and worthwhile? Let's take a look. Planning INSET with Purpose So how can you avoid the overload and instead plan an INSET day that is productive, engaging and worthwhile? Here’s a guide to help you plan ahead, including practical tips, prompts and a free checklist to get you started. What should I prioritise on INSET day? Often, schools will have one or two INSET days in September. While you may feel the need to account for each hour of those days, it's important to consider what you wish to prioritise so you don't overfill them and end up rushing through some of the most important bits. Each school will have individual priorities based on the outcomes of their most recent Ofsted inspection, school improvement work or community-based actions. However, the following suggestions are areas that are commonly prioritised by most settings on INSET day: Greet and introduce new team members. Share school improvement priorities. Provide statutory safeguarding training and updates, such as KCSIE and The Prevent Duty. Distribute policy and procedure changes. Spend time with your senior leadership team during the summer term to clarify what your school priorities are, map out your September INSET day ideas and agree how this information will be shared during INSET. Key Considerations Share the planned schedule for each day in advance, providing clarity and allowing attendees to prepare accordingly. Be prepared for unforeseen circumstances and remain adaptable. Plans may need to be adjusted at the last minute, so having contingency measures in place is essential. Consider small gestures to show appreciation for staff members' dedication to your school. This could include organising a team lunch or preparing tea and coffee to kickstart the day on a positive note. Extend invitations to governors or trustees to attend the INSET days to provide an opportunity for them to connect with staff members and gain insights into the school's operations. Aim to conclude the day's activities ahead of schedule whenever possible. Allowing staff members to leave early provides them with additional time to recharge and prepare for the upcoming term, promoting a fresh start. Thinking about how you might plan all of this out? Our checklist has you covered and better yet, it's FREE! Practical Tips for Planning INSET Planning an effective school INSET day requires careful consideration to ensure it's both productive and engaging for the staff team. What are your staff worried about this September? Considering this can help to make INSET day effective. Here are some of our top tips: 1. Set clear objectives Define what you want to achieve by the end of the day. Whether it's introducing new strategies, addressing specific challenges linked to school improvement or enhancing staff wellbeing, having clear objectives will keep everyone focused. Don't forget to share these with the team too. 2. Tailor activities to staff needs Talk to the team before you begin to plan the day to understand their professional development needs, learning styles and interests. Customise the day's activities accordingly to make it relevant and beneficial for everyone. 3. Provide a mix of training methods and opportunities for interaction Incorporate a variety of training methods to cater to different learning styles. This could include workshops, presentations, group discussions, hands-on activities or even guest speakers. Adding a variety of methods like this can help to avoid cognitive overload. Encourage active participation through interactive workshops where staff can apply new skills or strategies in a supportive environment. Utilising hands-on activities can reinforce learning and foster collaboration among colleagues. 4. Include everyone It's crucial to involve all staff members in meaningful ways during the INSET. While recognising that not every training session will directly apply to every role, it's vital to tailor the agenda to address the specific needs of each group of staff. Inclusivity ensures that everyone feels valued and contributes to the collective effort, fostering a strong sense of teamwork as the academic year begins. 5. Prepare resources and materials in advance Ensure staff have access to necessary resources, materials and tools to support their learning during the day and check you have sufficient quantities so everyone has a copy. If you're expecting a staff member or external individual to lead a session, take the time to agree what needs to be covered in advance so it is well prepared and appropriate for the needs of your school and staff team. 6. Factor in reflection Schedule time for staff to reflect on their learning throughout the day. Reflection helps reinforce understanding and allows individuals to consider how they can apply new knowledge or skills in their practice. INSET is also a perfect opportunity for staff members to reflect on what they'd like to achieve this year and the skills they'd like to develop. 7. Incorporate time for collaboration Provide opportunities for staff to collaborate with colleagues from different departments or year groups to support the sharing of ideas and experiences. These conversations can be hugely beneficial and spark creativity and generate new approaches to teaching and learning. 8. Focus on wellbeing Dedicate part of the day to staff wellbeing activities such as mindfulness exercises, team-building activities or sessions on work-life balance. A healthy and motivated staff team is essential for a successful school community and INSET day provides the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the academic year. 9. Offer follow-up support After the INSET day, provide opportunities for support to help reinforce learning and encourage staff to implement new strategies effectively. This could include mentoring, coaching or additional resources and training sessions. It's important that any strategies introduced on INSET day are not seen as just as one-off training opportunity, and instead, plans should be in place to build upon the work started here. 10. Gather feedback Collect feedback from staff after the INSET day to evaluate its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement in future professional development sessions. How can Honeyguide help you prepare for the training day and the academic year ahead? We're passionate about ensuring all staff, including school leaders, get the time off and rest they need and deserve during the summer holidays. For this reason, we'd really recommend planning out your INSET day in advance of the summer break, and complete any actions that feed into the priorities covered during the day. Free INSET Day Planning Checklist Thinking about how to keep track of all this? Our free INSET Day Planning Checklist can help you map out priorities, timings and team roles in one go, as well as: Outline clear goals for the day Delegate responsibilities across SLT Double-check safeguarding and statutory items Prepare materials and resources in good time It’s a simple way to bring clarity and calm to your planning. Here are some of our top resources so you can feel prepared in advance of INSET day, covering aspects of the Ofsted framework, subject leadership, safeguarding and more: Let us lead beside you and help you to feel ready for the new academic year now, so you can enjoy much needed time off to recharge over the summer break.

on May 23 2024

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