Policy, campaigns and influencing
Our mission is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of everyone working in education.
While we continue to support individuals and schools through our resources and support services, we know many of the issues facing education staff today, including SEND pressures, challenging pupil and parent behaviour driven by unmet needs, and an unsustainable accountability system, are challenges that require urgent government action and cross-sector collaboration.
That’s why we also focus on driving change from government through robust research, influencing and campaigning - amplifying the voices of educators and advocating for meaningful policy reform.
Our research is at the heart of our influencing work. By gathering insights from teachers and education staff across the UK, we highlight the real-world impact of policy decisions on their wellbeing. These insights show that educators often feel left to fill the cracks in struggling public services, such as CAMHS and social services. This, in turn, negatively affects their own mental health and wellbeing, as well as that of the children and young people they support.
We use this evidence to influence policy and campaign for changes that can make a real, lasting difference. By influencing government policy across all four nations of the UK, we aim to help shape a new vision for the education sector, which builds hope, rebuilds trust and reenergises the burnt-out education workforce.
Our priorities
We focus on the issues that matter most to educators’ mental health and wellbeing, including:
- Workload and work intensity
- Retention
- Accountability and inspection
- Building a culture that values and protects staff wellbeing
Recent highlights
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in raising awareness of education staff wellbeing and influencing change. There is still lots more to do, but here are a few of our highlights:
Ofsted published an independent wellbeing assessment by our CEO, Sinéad Mc Brearty.
Find out how we raise awareness about current issues affecting teachers and education staff at the Labour Party Conference.
We were invited to give evidence to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry on teacher recruitment and retention.
To find out more about our policy, campaigns and influencing work, please contact Lucy Rycroft at lucy.rycroft@edsupport.org.uk
