September Success Programme
Prepare for the new academic year with three workshops from our September Success Programme
Keeping children safe in education: Updates for September 2021
Now that the September 2021 update to the Department for Education’s guidance for keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) has been published, we want to ensure that everyone who works in education is informed on the changes.
Tips for Teaching Assistants: Making a positive first impression
Greg, a Zen registered Teaching Assistant and cover supervisor, shares three helpful tips for making a positive impression in schools.
5 tips for supply teaching in a new school
Robert has 8 years of teaching experience and has a few tips to share with supply teachers heading into new classrooms.
Workshop: How can teachers and TAs support children with autism?
Resources and effective strategies for supporting children with autism from our workshop on April 8th, 2021
How to Build an Effective Professional Profile: Key insights from our workshop
Why should you refine your professional profile? We hosted a workshop to explore why it matters, how to develop your CV and suggest effective frameworks to take forward.
An Easy Guide to Children's Yoga
Beckie, founder of Bhumi Yoga and supply teacher with 20 years of school experience, shares yoga-inspired activities which help with behaviour management.
Coping with Stress: The 4 R’s Approach
A recap on 'The 4 R’s Approach to Coping with Stress' from our webinar: Towards Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Staying active in lockdown
Are you finding time for fitness right now? The Zen team has lockdown fitness ideas to share with teachers and anyone working remotely.
Teacher Checklist: How to prepare for Primary Supply Teaching
Robert, an experienced London supply teacher, shares ways to succeed on your first day of primary supply teaching. A helpful guide if you’re wondering what to bring to school.
Five books to promote friendships, inclusivity and understanding of SEND
It’s Anti-Bullying Week, which is a great opportunity to emphasise the collective responsibility of students to end bullying and respect each other. With powerful illustrations and encouraging messages, picture books are an ideal way to help children understand and celebrate their differences.
Top Tips for Classroom Teaching Assistants
Here we share 4 tips for teaching assistants returning to work in September
CPD Resources for Teachers and TAs
A collection of books and online courses for any teaching staff to explore during the lockdown
Helping SEND Pupils Transition Back to School
Some useful insight on how to best deal with the transition of SEN students back to school
Keeping early years reading on track during home learning
I’ve written this post to share some ideas to support early years reading at home.
Top 3 Sensory Activities for children with Autism to enjoy
3 fun and engaging activities for children with Autism from our SEN specialist, Olivia Sheppard, in honour of World Autism Day
Four tips for getting your class back on track after the break
How to welcome your students back to your classroom and get behaviour on track as quickly as possible
5 Top Tips for Starting the New School Year Off Right
The summer is over, you’ve enjoyed your holiday, and it’s time to get back to teaching. The start of a new academic term may feel daunting, but following these tips will help you reduce stress and get back into the swing of things.
How to Motivate Your Learners at the Start of the New Academic Year
Worried about how to engage students after a long summer break? One of our supply teachers offers valuable insight into how she keeps students interested once the new academic year starts.
How to Re-energise Yourself as a Supply Teacher After Summer
After a long summer holiday off, it can be tough to get back into teaching. Leigh shares her tips on how to re-energise yourself as a supply teacher and get back into the swing of things come the September term.
Secondary to Primary Teaching
Teaching supply allows you to work in a variety of contexts. As an experienced secondary school teacher now teaching daily supply, a Zen teacher shares how they have adapted their teaching practices to be effective in a primary setting.
Strategies to Deliver Improved Language Lessons in UK Schools
So many pupils today do not seem to value language subjects in the same way that they value the core subjects. As one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to teaching languages in UK schools, it is necessary for teachers to overcome this.
My Top Tips for Stress-Free Prep
A supply day can be overwhelming if you're not prepared. Consider the advice of Nathanlie, a supply teacher, who shared her tips and tricks for a typical teaching day.
Tips for Choosing a Supply Agency
Navigating how to find the right supply agency for you can be an overwhelming process. It’s important to understand the differences between them and what each has to offer. Follow these guidelines to ensure that you find the best agency for you.
Developing Wellbeing in the Early Years
Mental health, stress and workload are hot topics at the moment. Many schools are raising the profile of wellbeing and making a real commitment to improving the mental health of their staff, children and the wider community.
How to Best Support Your SEN Students
Each SEN student will have different needs and learning habits. Whilst each child is different, there are a number of things you can do to prepare when taking on a new class with SEN requirements..
5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching
One of Zen's best teachers looks back on the earliest days of his teaching career and shares the main things that every new teacher should know.
The Trial Day: How to be Confident, Calm and Most Importantly Prepared
As an ex-Spanish teacher and talent finder at Zen Educate, Sarah offers advice on one of the hardest parts of finding a role: The trial day.
Podcast recommendation of the week: Design thinking as pedagogy for students and educators
This week’s podcast recommendation features Sandy Speicher, partner and managing director of education at IDEO, with Tom from Getting Smart, breaking down what design thinking is and why it’s so important for teachers and education leaders right now.
How to Have a Successful Day and Manage Your TAs as a Supply Teacher
As an experienced supply teacher to many organisations and schools, there are some vital tips to support your practice when working with volunteers, teaching assistants, mentors, higher teaching assistants and one to one support.
Outside the Classroom
It's not just about the classroom; schools now expect teachers to engage in the school and show an interest in extracurricular activities. Mary, a supply teacher, shares various ways for a teacher to integrate themselves into a school community.
Useful Tips for Supply Teachers That Have Been Trained Overseas
Congratulations! You went through a rigorous training programme overseas and are now a qualified teacher. How do you transfer your training and experience to schools in the UK?
Tips for Relieving Teacher Stress
Stress management for a teacher can be a difficult task, sometimes seemingly impossible. Whether you are in your first years of teaching or have many years of experience, stress and teaching can often go hand-in-hand. Often times as a teacher, the work doesn’t end once you leave school. Learning management strategies for dealing with anxiety and a significant workload is important not only for your mental health, but for your overall well-being both in and out of the classroom. Consider the following tips to have a little more peace of mind, remembering that the first person you should take care of is yourself.
Entering Supply After Being a Classroom Teacher
It is a hard adjustment from classroom teacher to supply teacher. There are substantial differences to the job both within and outside the school. It is important to be prepared for these changes so that you can make the most of your experience as a supply teacher.
How to Overcome the Supply Teacher Effect
Coming back into supply teaching after leaving a full time teacher position after 5 years was a daunting prospect. I was familiar with the same school and the set procedures on a day to day basis. The children knew what I expected of them and were aware of the consequences of not following instructions or school rules. There are certain steps you can take to eliminate the "substitute teacher effect" and have a successful supply day.
Keeping Children Safe in Education: What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to the processes and policies in place used to protect children from abuse, including physical, mental, neglect, and bullying. It is designed in the best interest of the child in order to promote their own health and safety. As educators, it is imperative to understand how to handle a potential crisis situation and be able to offer the right kind of help.
My Journey as a Spanish Teacher in Birmingham
As a follow-up to her first interview, we sat down with Sarah from our Teacher Success Team. Read our conversation about her experience teaching Spanish at secondary state schools in Birmingham and London.
Book Review: The Behaviour Guru
An overview of Tom Bennett’s relatable, humorous and no-nonsense guide to behaviour management.
Making a Good Impression as a Supply Teacher
New to supply work? An experienced supply teacher shares her top tips for having a great day.
Covering New Subjects
Supply teaching brings with it a number of new, exciting experiences. If you find yourself having to cover an unknown subject, there are certain things you can do to prepare.
How Can You Best Manage Behaviour as a Supply Teacher?
Managing disruptive behaviour in a class where the students do not know you may seem like a daunting prospect. Read ahead for some valuable tips that will boost your confidence when working with a new class.
Survive and Thrive as a Supply Teacher in a Key Stage 2 Classroom
Teaching children in Key Stage 2 can be quite the challenge. One of our experienced teachers shared their top tips to improve your experience and boost your confidence.
Becoming a Qualified Teacher as an HLTA
Starting out as a teacher after working as an HLTA can feel like quite a leap. One maths teacher shares their advice when making the transition with a PGCE.
Top Tips For Marking Efficiently and Effectively as a Supply Teacher
Marking work as a supply teacher can be difficult, but it doesn't have to take hours. One of our teachers has shared her top tips to help you mark efficiently after a day of supply.
Teaching on the Other Side of the World: My Experience Teaching in the UK
New to teaching in the UK? Here is one teacher's advice to help you find your feet.
5 Things Canadians Should Consider When Thinking About Teaching in the UK
Moving to teach in the UK? Here's how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
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