The Thinking Academy

Create a Great Culture

Just like the soil in a garden, company culture is where your people can flourish. And like soil, your culture needs regular enrichment, improvement, and care. Various factors and systems contribute to shaping culture: vision, values, structures, management, communication, and more. Together, they form the soil in which your people either can thrive or struggle.

Supervision plays a pivotal role in shaping culture. It provides a space where your team can consistently build trust and receive support, directly impacting their happiness and contribution at work.

“The latest Teacher Wellbeing Index findings identify that 78% of all education staff and 89% of senior leaders are stressed. With increasing pressure in schools, there’s a crucial need for a safe and reflective space.”

Reflective supervision offers a protected space for staff to share concerns, reflect on practice, and manage the emotional demands of their work. Evidence shows that settings with an embedded supervision culture have happier, more motivated staff and achieve better outcomes for their pupils overall.

Reflective action is bound up with persistent and careful consideration of practice in the light of knowledge and beliefs, showing attitudes of open-mindedness, responsibility, and whole-heartedness.”

Hatton & Smith

IN PRACTICE

It all starts with a conversation.

Supervision in education is a non-judgmental, collaborative process that supports colleagues. Through dialogue, new insights emerge, co-creating learning opportunities that contribute to best practice, effective relationships, enhanced wellbeing, and professional and personal development, thus fostering improved cultures.

Supervision should align with the unique values, mission, and systems of your organization. A one-size-fits-all solution is rarely effective because it fails to address the unique dynamics of your organization and the community it serves. Supervision systems, like all support systems for your people, should reflect the distinctive dynamics of your school and be customized to the specific needs of your organizational culture.

Our supervision will be:

Resourcing: Supervision in education serves as a valuable resource, offering educators support, guidance, and access to tools and resources to enhance their practices and address emotional and practical challenges effectively.

Developmental: Supervision fosters continuous professional development by encouraging educators to reflect on their practices, identify areas for growth, and acquire new skills and knowledge to improve their performance.

Qualitative: Through ongoing dialogue and feedback, supervision evaluates the effectiveness of teaching methods, instructional strategies, and leadership approaches, promoting personal responsibility and facilitating continuous improvement within the educational community.

Leonie skilfully guided our group through the trials of the Covid 19 pandemic, facilitating us to coach, advise and support each other through the most difficult of times. Every session was very different and her approach was tailored to best suit the individual needs of each member of the group. The supervisionsessions were an incredible learning experience. During each session I was supported to unpick and explore an issue/problem/dilemma; challenging questions, advice, suggestions and observations from the other members of the group helped me to clarify my thoughts and move forward. Long after each session, I found myself reflecting on what I had said, heard and discovered. As a result, I believe I have become more effective in my role - having greater awareness of my abilities and confidence in what I do.
Headteacher
Devon

HOW TO GET STARTED

Choose the Most Suitable Approach:

1:1
Supervision sessions

One-to-One supervision provides educators with personalized support and guidance, fostering reflective practice, enhancing teaching effectiveness and wellbeing, and ultimately improving outcomes for children. By offering a confidential and judgement-free space for off-load, exploration and feedback, 1:1 supervision empowers educators to balance the emotional and practical challenges of their work, develop their practice, leading to a positive impact on the overall school community.

Group Supervision
Sessions

Group supervision in schools fosters a collaborative learning environment where educators can share experiences, exchange ideas, and support each other’s professional  and emotional growth. By promoting peer learning and collective problem-solving, group supervision enhances team cohesion, increases accountability, and drives continuous improvement within the school community, ultimately leading to improved teaching practices and student outcomes.

Supervision Systems and Support

We can co-create a self-sustaining supervisory system for your unique setting. Enhancing supervision practices in schools is all about empowering educators and nurturing a culture of ongoing learning. By introducing evidence-based methods tailored to your organisations individual needs, you will be able to support your teachers in reflecting on their experiences, refining their approaches, and collaborating on solutions. This not only boosts professional development and personal well-being but also fosters a supportive, vibrant atmosphere where both educators and children thrive.

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

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Transforming your leadership, team, and school starts with one conversation.