When the schools closed the doors for the Christmas break on Friday 17th December, the East Anglia Step Teachers office, in Norwich, was still a hive of activity. Finalising the last cover for January, responding to those very last minute needs that came through…and James and I were getting together the resources, tea and coffee ready for our very first Norfolk Steps “Step On” training session on Monday 22nd December.
I previously wrote about James and I attending our Step On Lead Practitioner training, and with that completed and our session readied, our first Step On training was the culmination of over a term of collaboration with Norfolk County Council’s Norfolk Steps team.
We knew that running a training session on the first day of the Christmas holidays was a lofty bar to set; with only three days before Christmas itself, it is a hectic time of year where everyone (especially teachers, who are flat out in the run-up to the Christmas break) is busy and tired. So, we were very pleased to see 17 teachers, teaching assistants and cover supervisors take the day to join us at Sewell Park Academy, who very kindly hosted us for the training.
Through activities and discussion, we walked through the behaviours that challenge that our staff see throughout their work, the factors that underpin behaviour, the ways in which schools are being trained concurrently to support supply and agency staff, and the words, actions and non-restrictive interventions (in certain circumstances) that can provide support to a child or young person in need.
Having been a supply teacher myself, I know that it can sometimes feel like you work in a single-person microcosm (and it was always great to come across another supply teacher “in the wild”, especially if they were working with your agency!) so to be able to see some of our supply staff forming new friendships and finding out about each other’s experiences was fantastic.
As part of the training, we were keen to receive feedback on what we could improve and what went well – and our supply staff were fantastic in doing this. With the majority of the feedback being logistical, and a few, helpful, constructive suggestions for our second session, we were thrilled to get feedback like “The course was brilliant. Clear, well laid out…I have learnt so much ready to take back to school in January.” “It will be useful for all supply staff.” “I had a great time”. It was great to hear that they had found it a positive experience.
We asked them how effectively the training had met their needs – gaining a 4.6 rating out of 5. We asked them how likely they were to recommend the course to their colleagues – also gaining a 4.6 rating out of 5. We were also very grateful to those who gave us such lovely, warm praise for the way we ran the session; after stepping out of the classroom in 2023 it was a nice way to come back to my roots, sharing in best practice with our supply staff, and James’ years of experience in the office meant it felt like we were really able to synchronise the dual realities of how working on a supply basis differs from being contracted with a single school, with how most elements of good practice can be applied across a range of school settings, if you’re in a supportive school environment and have the capacity to adapt (which, if you’re working on supply, is an absolute necessity!). It is always lovely to get comments like “Thank you for making this so understanding and great” and “good pace and good humour” (which I’m fairly certain was mostly James’ doing)!
So, what comes next? With our goal of running the training every half term and end of term break, we are looking towards the February half term. Our goal is to see every Supply Teacher, Teaching Assistant, HLTA, Early Years Practitioner and Cover Supervisor we work with in Norfolk, trained in Step On practices. We want to see our supply staff confident in supporting children and young people displaying behaviours that challenge, knowing they are sufficiently equipped to do so.
We are excited to be walking with our supply staff, on the path to making this goal a reality.
Here are some ways you can join us on our journey:
Teachers, Teaching Assistants, HLTAs, Cover Supervisors, Early Years Practitioners who haven’t yet met us – we know that upskilling outside of a school environment can be challenging. Give us a call, or an email, and have a chat. We would love to support you with Step On training, and free web courses available on the National College through us.
Step Teachers’ Teachers, Teaching Assistants, HLTAs, Cover Supervisors, Early Years Practitioners – Keep an eye on your inbox! We’ll be sending out details of our next Step On training course over the next few weeks – and we would love for you to be part of our second cohort of Step On trained staff!
Schools, Alternative Provision Settings, Nurseries, Preschools and beyond – we want to know what Step On looks like to you, and how it works for your children and young people. We know that every setting is different and has differing needs and support structures. If you are looking for supply staff who understand the Norfolk Steps ethos, give us a call and have a chat – we’re here to provide the best cover for your pupils.
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