About the Hive
Just as the bees are essential to the whole of humanity’s existence and survival,
so too are our Early Years practitioners, support staff, teachers and school leaders
essential to our society’s positive progress and a civilised world.
However, our self-care is necessary for our own survival and indeed our need to flourish as educators! How are our inner resources? How are we consciously focused on what makes us feel good to educate well? How do we reconcile the external pressures and demands with the essential need to care for ourselves?
The premise of “feeling good, teaching well” is the starting block for The Hive of Wellbeing. Simple in its message, and ambitious in its goal, The Hive aims to support Early Years practitioners, teachers and senior leaders in getting into a “better-feeling place” by using coaching for performance principles, positive psychology approaches and self-efficacy theory in CLPL and CAT sessions in schools as well as in group and individual coaching sessions.
Focusing on a range of work issues, such as workload, time management, school and classroom systems, values and beliefs, work relationships; educators are asked to reflect on questions pertinent to their inner resilience, self-efficacy and the emotional capital needed to make their settings and schools successful. Another key element of the work of The Hive of Wellbeing is the desire to build a supportive network for individual practitioners, teachers and leaders out with their schools, where there are opportunities to explore personal and professional challenges whilst having the coaching support to discuss and reframe issues appropriately.
This teaching and school leadership network is run by professional coach, Claire Lavelle, who has over twenty years’ experience in Education. Claire has been a teacher, a principal teacher, a primary head teacher in Scotland and abroad, and a quality improvement officer in a Scottish local authority.
Claire is based in Edinburgh and is working in a number of local authorities, schools and early years settings throughout Scotland focusing on the wellbeing of staff so that they can feel good to support, teach and lead well!
What do our customers think?
I asked Claire to coach me as I was a fairly new Depute Head, and really unsure of how I was doing, what I was doing or even why.
I signed up for 3 sessions thinking that hopefully I would be able to tackle issues which kept returning in the role- feelings of inadequacy, not getting the job done, lack of autonomy and lack of assertiveness.
We looked closely at what I was about as an Educator and leader. I identified I valued relationships, fairness, trust and morals as key drivers for me as a leader. We also discussed what held me back.
The first session allowed me to express my frustrations with myself and situations... from that Claire helped me clarify that I before my next session I would work on ‘getting the job done’.
Claire got me to write down a typical day. In session 2 a shift happened.
What was really inspirational for me was that I saw how much I actually got done in just one day... I saw how many people I connected with and I also started to acknowledge what was actually holding me back. I also identified some behaviours which were not helpful - lack of boundaries, overworking and prioritising work over family life.
Session 3 saw me move on with my work.
After the sessions I felt incredibly energised and focussed and they really clarified what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.
A few months on, finally, I am also able to use some of what I worked on with Claire to make sure others in similar situations have a compassionate and empathetic other to discuss and make sense of the complex and fragile eco systems we call schools.
D. Primary Deputy Head
“Great presentation. Claire was very inspiring. Wish you could come and spend a day with all our staff”
“Thank you – I love these sessions and am spreading the word with colleagues. So useful to have these sessions. I love the ongoing interactions and your nuggets of wisdom!”
“Self-Care and Self-Compassion” Session at The Wellbeing Lab for Teachers and EY Practitioners
Question asked on evaluation sheet: What impact has The Hive had on you since the previous session?:
“Taking time for myself, maintaining a work-life balance.”
“Feel more confident that I am doing the best I can.”
“Better awareness of self-care and taking time to reflect and not put pressure on myself.”
“Looking at the impact of work I do and how much I gain.”
“Building the Dream Team” Session.
“You just nail it every time!! Claire was amazing again! So knowledgeable and connects with everyone because she’s been in our shoes! Thank you - we should have one at the start of every term.”
“Choosing Self-Care” Session
Question asked on evaluation sheet: “What aspects did you benefit from today?”
“Makes you think about what is achievable”
“Reflection, nice to discuss things in a big group. Positive thinking.”
“Reminders about how to prioritise and change mindsets.”
“Time to share with others and reflect on perceptions.”
“The opportunity to reflect on my own reactions/thought processes.”
“Further understanding on how to manage my own stresses.”
“Feeling Good, Teaching Well” Session