Wellbeing for Education Recovery - Headteacher Peer Support and Mentoring Programme

Hampshire County Council Children's Services works with all schools across both Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (as per partnership agreement with IOW Council). As part of the funding conditions of the Wellbeing for Education Return / Recovery (WfER) Programme grant, HCC is required to utilise the grant to promote the emotional wellbeing and mental health of education leaders and staff, so they are best placed to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people.

The aims of the service to be delivered will include:

• Providing a peer mentoring / development / support service to Head Teachers in education settings across Hampshire and the IOW.

• Sessions will provide a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space, where Head Teachers can share their challenges and successes with their peers, seek support from colleagues and reflect positively on their impact as school leaders. The support sessions should involve a high level of trust and support, addressing the often quoted 'isolation' that Head Teachers experience in their role.

• By taking part in the sessions, Head Teachers will be given an outlet to share any concerns or worries that could be causing personal or work related stress and anxiety, and enable Head Teachers to be more resilient to support their staff and pupils in their setting.

• The model, whilst initially being directed and supported by the external provider, will need to support and enable Head Teachers to take on the leadership of the peer network, and sustain them themselves between them. This will enable to model to be self supporting and sustainable beyond the point that the funding and external provider's service will end.