5 ways schools can show appreciation for staff and improve wellbeing

Watch this video featuring our Director of Programmes, Faye McGuinness, and read on to discover five practical ways schools can show appreciation for staff and build a healthier, more supportive workplace.

Videos / 2 mins watch

Strong workplace relationships are essential for creating a positive school culture and supporting staff wellbeing.

In education, where pressures can be high, feeling valued and appreciated plays a vital role in improving teacher retention, boosting morale, and supporting mental health.

When school staff feel listened to, supported, and recognised, they are more engaged, resilient, and motivated to perform at their best.

Watch this video featuring our Director of Programmes, Faye McGuinness, download our poster, and read on to discover five practical ways schools can show appreciation for staff and build a healthier, more supportive workplace.

About Faye McGuinness

Faye is responsible for the development and delivery of our services and programmes. Prior to joining Education Support Faye's role was Head of Workplace Wellbeing Programmes at the mental health charity Mind, where she led on the development of Workplace Wellbeing programmes including the Mentally Healthy Universities Programme, the Our Frontline campaign and the Mental Health at Work website.

Faye feels incredibly passionate about supporting better workplace mental health and making an impact across the education sector. Faye is also a trustee for the charity Music For All, which is dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making.

5 ways schools can show appreciation for staff

1 Listen to your staff

Listening to staff is one of the most effective ways to improve staff wellbeing in schools. If staff feel listened to, they will feel appreciated. Schools need to understand their staff’s mental health and wellbeing needs.

Annual staff surveys are a great starting point—but ongoing “pulse checks” can help identify emerging issues before they escalate.

Schools should actively seek to understand staff mental health and wellbeing needs through regular communication. You might not be able to solve everything but it’s important to understand them.

2 Create a staff wellbeing plan

Create a plan to support staff mental health and wellbeing.
A clear, actionable staff wellbeing plan is key to creating lasting change.

This should be informed by all the insights gathered via staff engagement. This plan should be shaped by insights gathered from staff surveys, feedback sessions, and day-to-day conversations.

Responding to staff concerns shows that you take their views seriously.

Addressing staff concerns and acting on feedback shows that leadership takes wellbeing seriously and helps create a more supportive school environment.

3 Promote a school culture of openness

Feeling like your voice is valued is really important for fostering a sense of appreciation.

A positive school culture depends on openness and psychological safety. Staff need to feel confident that their voices are valued.

It’s important that staff can talk about challenges and how they feel.
Encouraging open conversations around mental health and wellbeing helps reduce stigma.

This will create an environment where staff feel psychologically safe.
When staff feel safe to share how they’re feeling, it strengthens workplace relationships and improves overall wellbeing.

4 Support school leaders and line managers

Line management relationships have a direct impact on workplace satisfaction – and therefore overall wellbeing! Strong leadership has a direct impact on staff satisfaction and overall wellbeing.

Make sure that line managers are trained to identify when people are struggling, and to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

Providing support for school leaders and managers - including professional supervision - helps them recognise when staff may be struggling and equips them to have supportive, effective conversations.

Investing in leadership development is one of the most impactful ways to improve workplace wellbeing in schools.

5 Support staff during challenging times

We’re all human and we all face challenging times. Supporting staff when they are not at their best is essential for building a culture of care and appreciation.

This could include regular check-ins, offering flexible working options, sign-posting to our free emotional support helpline, or investing in our Employee Assistance Programme.

Small, consistent actions can make a big difference and strengthen trust, loyalty, and long-term wellbeing.