Self-Care in Educational Settings for Early Years Teams

Stress occurs at work when anxiety & fear set in. It can manifest as a fear of being expected to do more than you feel capable of doing but not feeling able to voice this without fear of recrimination. It also occurs when staff feel angry or frustrated over feeling powerless within their role. In a fast-paced environment where you are expected to look after a number of young children each with their own (often complex) needs, if resources that help you feel supported feel limited burnout and exhaustion can set in.

If you’re feeling like this it may be helpful to ask, 'What am I anxious/ angry about?' and 'what can I practically do about my situation?’.  Knowing and identifying what resources and support are available to you will help you to restore a sense of control, and enjoyment in your work.

This workshop helps bring staff teams together to think about how they look after themselves and look out for each other.

Aims:

· To notice what triggers stress for you – to explore ways in which you can manage your own stress and get further support if needed

· Reflecting on where your staff team sits when it comes to stress – how you view it? Common misconceptions, attitudes towards colleagues who feel stressed.

· To help you feel connected within your team and know that during times of stress it’s OK not to be OK and it’s OK to ask for help

· Learning to be more open and engaged so that you can manage difficult conversations with parents/children who may be defensive

· Conversations and language we can use with colleagues, children and parents through the power of PACE (playfulness Acceptance Curiosity & Empathy) insert link to brochure here