Across schools, support staff play a vital role in creating safe, nurturing environments for children and young people. Teaching assistants, pastoral teams, and other frontline staff are often the first point of contact for students in distress. Yet, in recent years, their roles have become increasingly demanding, with a sharp rise in verbal and physical aggression towards staff. This, coupled with the growing mental health pressures within the education sector, has left many struggling with heightened anxiety, stress, and burnout.
At One Education we recognise the urgent need to support these staff members – not just in managing day-to-day challenges, but in addressing the deeper causes of workplace stress and absenteeism. We believe that by understanding emerging trends and providing structured support, schools can foster a healthier, more resilient workforce.
Why Staff Wellbeing Matters
When staff experience repeated verbal and physical aggression, it takes an emotional toll. Over time, stress and anxiety build, leading to increased absenteeism, reduced job satisfaction, and, in some cases, staff leaving the profession altogether. This not only affects individual wellbeing but also disrupts the consistency of support for students. Schools need a proactive, rather than reactive, approach – one that acknowledges the parallel processes at play, where staff distress can mirror and impact the wider school environment.
Our Approach: A Tailored Wellbeing Support Package
To address these challenges, our Creative Arts Therapy team alongside other departments in One Education offer a range of interventions designed to provide immediate support while also promoting long-term cultural change within schools. Our provision includes:
- Training & Awareness Sessions: Helping staff understand the impact of verbal and physical aggression, recognise patterns and trends, and develop de-escalation strategies.
- School Needs Reviews: Assessing specific challenges within each school to tailor support effectively.
- Clinical Supervision: Offering a confidential space where staff can process experiences, gain professional support, and develop strategies for resilience.
- Half-Termly Reflective Practice Groups: Facilitated sessions for teaching assistants and pastoral teams to explore their experiences, build peer support networks, and prevent burnout.
- Consideration of Absenteeism & Workplace Wellbeing: Supporting schools in identifying patterns of staff absence and workplace stress, ensuring interventions address the root causes.
Moving Towards a Healthier School Culture
By embedding reflective practice and supervision into school structures, staff feel heard, supported, and better equipped to manage the challenges they face. A school culture that prioritises staff wellbeing benefits everyone – staff, students, and leadership alike.
We invite schools and multi-academy trusts to start the conversation about staff support. Investing in structured wellbeing provisions is not just a response to current challenges – it’s a commitment to sustaining a strong, resilient workforce for the future of education.
If you’d like to explore how this approach could work in your school, get in touch with us at cpeadmin@oneeducation.co.uk. Let’s work together to ensure that those who care for students are also cared for.
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