Working in education is demanding and overwhelming especially in the current post-covid times of rapid changes in policy and legislation.
Whether you're a leader, governor, teacher, early career teacher (ECT), trainee teacher, learning support teacher, SENCo, education specialist/consultant in your field, governor or aspiring to any of those roles then this Network is for you!
We are all in this together!
Community and connection are at the heart of everything you will read here.
Let's support and share and together to find ways to attain High Quality Teaching for all pupils whilst maintaining our own well-being with a focus on 'implementation without overwhelm!'
I’m Lorraine Smith and if you work in education then I’m here to support YOU to contribute towards the delivery of High Quality Teaching (HQT) and the provision of an environment that is inclusive for all, both children and young people (CYPs) and education professionals.
Having worked in education across mainstream and special sectors as well as in advisory and university settings, I believe that the educational climate today is the fastest changing in terms of legislation and policy and the most demanding on our resilience and capacity for adaptation and change due to the [post] Covid context and the on-going emphasis on the ‘catch-up’ curriculum.
The TeachAbout Community Network is a single space where you can access updates to legislation and their implications for your practice.
Get involved in educational debate.
Reflect on the features of High Quality Teaching and Inclusion
Join profession specific communities and take a lead in discussion and posting content.
Access PREMIUM content in the Know-How Networks to enhance your professional development and evidencing of professional standards.
I started my business TeachAbout® as a direct result of the levels of stress, anxiety and burn out I was continuing to see in the profession: From the trainee and early career teacher (ECT) to the experienced teacher and leader and of course, not forgetting the unique workload and pressures of the SENCo and the – often underestimated – demands made on support staff across all educational settings, we all struggle with overload at times and no more so than now.
Although we are now 'back to school' the consequences of the isolation experienced by educational professionals - not least the limitations of time spent in school experienced by our trainee and early career teachers - over the past two years are still very present.
Home-schooling or hybrid delivery of lessons and the medical crises that many of us have had to navigate through have led to us being isolated both professionally and personally which turn unavoidably takes its toll on our mental health and sense of well-being.
It is for this reason that I have undertaken to provide you with a professional, secure and ad-free space where you can connect with others without being pulled in multiple directions where you may be led to engaging in posts which lead to a less than positive experience.
Joining this Community Network will enable you to collaborate and encourage each other and – ideally – lighten the load together.
In the open all-member Networking space I provide you with current information, commentary and debate and invite your engagement and response.
I curate FREE community areas where you have freedom to decide your own content and topics – within the Network Ts & Cs. This is very much your space, but look out for responsive content to contribute to the discussions and questions you post.
I set up networks, each with a specialised focus, where I deliver PREMIUM content in addition to member discussion areas. Here you can access key information, be signposted to additional reading and research and download resources and tools for implementation. As part of the listed 'benefits' you could be able to access member-only challenges and workshops. Elements of these may be LIVE.