I am going away from this group determined to remain more positive! I am going to ask my children at the end of each day to tell me one positive thing that has happened that day.
Best ever inset in the 20 years I have been teaching. I will use the strategies for resilience at home and in my classroom.
So inspiring and thought-provoking. I loved every minute!
Lots of good ideas and things to think about. Enjoyable activities.
The practical activities were useful in enabling me to see how they could be used in the classroom.
I will definitely be using the “what went well for you?” questions to create a more positive climate in the classroom.
Really positive. I’ve learnt things I will use in school, but also with my own children.
Love the “three positive things every day”. I have used this during the year with myself and my family, and know the benefits.
Brilliant! Loved the session. I am feeling positive and inspired to try out the strategies.
Excellent strategies for building positivity and success.
An excellent course that will have a positive impact in our school. I have thoroughly enjoyed and been mentally stimulated by the course. Also learnt things about myself and been able to reflect. Thank you!
Such a positive approach to dealing with mental health.
Spending time each evening reflecting on what has gone well.
I approached Emma Alford at Leadership Explored for two reasons; firstly, the pupils at the school were passive learners who showed very little resilience when faced with challenges. Secondly, I wanted to find a more effective way to communicate with the many different personalities in the school, as a few key influential members of staff were resistant to the changes that were being implemented.
Leadership Explored helped by creating a bespoke training package for staff, on how best to communicate with different personality types. This was key, as it enabled all staff to gain a greater understanding of the best form of communication to use for different people and more importantly why. As part of the staff continuing professional development, Leadership Explored provided training around building and nurturing a ‘Growth Mindset’ and ‘Resilience’. Once staff had received the appropriate training, Emma then worked with the pupils and teachers to develop ‘Pupil Leadership’, ‘Growth Mindset’ and ‘Resilience’, through workshop style sessions. The workshop sessions were engaging and inspiring with the staff seeing great value in the approach and applying the tools and strategies in their learning environments with immediate effect.
The result of all this work is a more proactive learning community, who have a greater understanding on how to develop and nurture a positive ‘Growth Mindset’.
One thing I liked was that being a teacher, Emma had an in depth knowledge and great understanding of how pupils learn and how schools work. Her ideas are based on years of research and tried and tested strategies that work and are easily implemented. This will be our sixth year of working with Emma and our staff and pupils really respond well to her positivity and enthusiasm, always really looking forward to working with her.
I would recommend Leadership Explored to people and learning communities who want to develop their communication skills and who passionately believe that the development of resilience and a positive growth mindset is absolutely key for children and young people to live a fulfilling and happy life.
May 2019
Jane McNally
Headteacher, St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Stratford Upon Avon
Headteacher, St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Stratford Upon Avon