Primary Work/Life Balance A resource for school CPD leaders.

Primary Work/Life BalanceA resource for school CPD leaders

This presentation is for school CPD leaders. It’s a resource for structuring a 45-minute CPD session on work/life balance. It contains six clips from programmes shot in primary schools, and each clip is 3-4 minutes long. To accompany the clips there are short programme summaries and discussion starters.

Clips do not need to be watched in any particular order, and the presentation can be adapted to suit the priorities of individual schools. The discussion starters are included as suggestions only.

Click on the weblinks to view the full programmes and additional resources. (All programmes covered by the Creative Archive Licence can be viewed on the Teachers TV website and downloaded by registered users of the site.)

OverviewThese six clips, with their accompanying discussion starters, cover the following aspects of work/life balance:

An NQT needs to spend less time on her work (clip 1)

A KS2 teacher over-prepares for lessons (clip 2)

A reception teacher wants to make room for hobbies (clip 3)

Drama about a young teacher recovering from a nervous breakdown (clip 4)

Admin staff consider time-saving strategies (clip 5)

Adjusting the school hours to avoid the rush hour (clip 6)

1

Ease the Load –No Time to Spend with My Partner

A fast track NQT finds little time to spend with her boyfriend. Life coach Gladeana McMahon offers advice.

http://www.teachers.tv/video/3108


Could you name three ‘if then’ rules you hold about your professional life? Would you like to adapt any of these rules?

What advice and support is there for colleagues whose personal relationships might be suffering due to the pressures of the job?

What else can be done to stop NQTs from working too hard?

2

Ease the Load –My Planning Rules My Life

One KS2 teacher doesn’t like the idea of being caught out by pupils on a question she can’t answer. She ends up over-preparing for lessons as a result. Life coach Gladeana McMahon offers advice.



This teacher has success with the timer. What other practical strategies might help teachers to limit the time spent preparing for lessons?

The teacher manages to break the habit of over-preparing for lessons. Is there an aspect of your own work/life balance that you would like to change? What small steps could you take to achieve this?

3

Ease the Load –My Singing and Dancing Time Gets Squeezed Out

A teacher at an early stage of her career often works late, as well as taking work home. Wanting to make more time for singing lessons, she turns to life coach Gladeana McMahon for help.



Could you identify three activities that you give too much of your energy to?

How easy would it be in practical terms to pull back on the amount of energy you put into these things?

What further advice would you offer someone who had no time for interests outside of work?

4

Staffroom Monologues –How Are You?

A drama in which a class teacher who has recently recovered from a nervous breakdown reflects on the stresses of the job. This monologue was written by a special needs teacher.



The teacher has suffered a nervous breakdown. What can schools do to prevent things from going so far?

The doctor has advised the teacher to be kind to himself. Can schools provide more practical support to members of staff who find themselves in this situation?

The teacher seems to blame himself. Could senior management share some of the blame for not reducing his workload?

5

Primary Admin Staff –Time Management

Time management consultant John Seaman shadows a team of four admin staff at a large primary school. He suggests strategies for reducing their daily workload.



The life coach shadows the admin staff for the day. Would ‘shadowing’ be a good way for senior management to get a feel for how staff manage their time and workload?

The life coach suggests that teachers make requests for admin jobs in advance, by filling out forms. What other systems work well?

What advice would you give a colleague who found it hard to say no to requests for help?

6

Ease the Load –It’s About Time

At a primary school in south-east London the working day has been adjusted so that staff can avoid the morning and evening rush hours.



What might be the benefits of this approach for staff and children at the school?

Might a change in working hours be successful in your part of the country?

What would be your ideal working hours?

Primary Work/Life Balance A resource for school CPD leaders.

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Transcript of Primary Work/Life Balance A resource for school CPD leaders.