Nourish the workplace, helps schools help themselves through targeted wellbeing surveys, comprehensive reports with expert recommendations and recruitment help. Since September, King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy have been working towards achieving the Nourish the Workplace award, ensuring the school values staff’s health and wellbeing and they are in a positive environment.
To achieve the award, Liz Wills, Headteacher’s PA at BWA, explains the process involved, including keeping a toolkit and submitting evidence for the following ten targets:
- We have a manageable and appropriate workload
- We value and prioritise staff’s health and understand the need to rest and recharge
- We have a member of staff in charge of wellbeing who is not on SLT
- Wellbeing is covered in CPD sessions 3 times a year
- We operate flexible work strategies
- We implement the Find Fifteen Initiative
- Staff absence is managed effectively and is as low as possible
- Our staff enjoy working at our school and are happy in their job
- Our wellbeing offer is fair and inclusive for all staff
- We have taken on board recommendations given in the analysis report
Listed below are some of the actions that Balaam Wood take to address, promote and enhance wellbeing:
- Staff Wellbeing Working Group meet every half term.
- Staff Wellbeing Charter which outlines our approach to workload, in particular.
- Meeting Free Weeks.
- Celebrating nationally recognised days, such as National Teaching Assistants Day.
- Staff Wellbeing Workshops held every term which introduce staff members to a new technique to help support their wellbeing, such as meditation, stress awareness and yoga.
- Staff competitions linked to an activity, such as The Great Balaam Bake Off and badminton matches.
- Adult Mental Health Champions.
- Staff members are trained on key topics that may affect our team such as menopause awareness and baby loss.
- Staff social night outs are planned around activities, such as darts, bowling and go-karting.
“This is a huge achievement for the school, particularly at a time when educational recruitment and retention is vulnerable.” Damian McGarvey, Headteacher
A huge well done to the Balaam Wood community!
