Educational Support Staff

Developing the Heart of the School

Developing the Heart is an AET bespoke development programme that has been designed specifically for Educational Support Staff. The following modules can be followed either as stand-alone sessions or as a complete package.

1. Effective Communication

Its importance and how to get it right.

Aims: This session aims to develop understanding of:

• What is effective communication?
• What are the barriers to effective communication?
• What is effective active listening?

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: 'I found the session interesting and educational. The presentation clearly demonstrated the three main methods of communication: body language , tone of voice and the words chosen. The role model was right in front of us’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

2. Dealing with Difficult People

The tools and techniques for dealing with difficult people more effectively.

Aims: This session aims to explore:

• What makes some people more difficult to work with than others
• How an individual’s behaviours/drivers can impact on a situation
• The tools and techniques for dealing with difficult people more effectively

Group Size: 15 people maximum

Feedback: 'Taking part in this session has made me that much more aware of just how impressionable we as people are and how our emotions impact significantly on our social abilities’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

3. Customer Care

Getting it right.

Aims: This session will develop your understanding of:

• Who our customers are and what services we provide
• What level of service we aim to provide (code of practice)
• What measures we can use to check that we are getting it right

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: 'I have learnt that our team as a whole must be more positive to customers even in not so good times, and turn bad situations into positive ones, being pro-active – a fun and very enjoyable! (and interesting) session.'

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

4. Understanding Self

How to use the principles of Emotional Intelligence when working with others.

Aims: This session will cover:

• The importance of interpersonal skills when working with others
• The four aspects of Emotional Intelligence
• How to identify our strengths and areas to develop

Group Size: 15 people maximum

Feedback: 'Once again, the session was very thought provoking and interesting and covered a lot of ground. It helped our whole group to understand ourselves that little bit better including what our individual characteristics are.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

5. Managing Change and Coping with Stress

Understanding the skills required to manage change and cope with stress effectively.

Aims: This session aims to develop our understanding of:

• Why change can be such a big issue
• How stress can impact on our ability to progress and learn
• How to cope with stress more effectively

Group Size: 20 people maximum

Feedback: ‘The main thing that I have taken away from the session is that everyone is very different in terms of their ability to adapt and embrace change as well as accepting it, reflecting on it and dealing with it.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

6. Successful Negotiation

Exploring the importance of effective negotiation.

Aims: This session aims to:

• Develop skills required for effective negotiation
• Explore the importance of keeping it personal
• Provide best practice for challenging meetings

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: ‘The structure of the session enabled delegates to explore the concepts independently and in a group. This helped me to personalise the concepts and therefore gain a greater understanding.'

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

7. Leading Others

The difference between leadership and management and how to lead a team effectively.

Aims: This session aims to answer the following questions:

• What does the term leadership mean? And how does it differ from management?
• What skills and qualities do we expect a successful leader to possess?
• What are the fundamental requirements for leading effective teams?

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: ‘Fantastic delivery, consistent activities, a very engaging session as always'

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

8. How We Learn

How the brain works and how we can learn more effectively.

Aims: This session aims to explore:

• How the brain works and how this can be used to improve learning
• How knowledge about the two different brain hemispheres can help us to learn more effectively
• How an understanding of learning styles and preferences can be used to increase motivation and success

Group Size: 25 people minimum

Feedback: 'This session had a good element of personal leaning whereby we learnt a lot about how we typically learn and what encourages us to learn and stay motivated, what kind of person we are in terms of how we are smart, and what suits us best. Overall, another really good session and I enjoyed it.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

9. Memory

How our memory works and how we can improve it.

Aims: This session aims to develop our understanding of:

• How an understanding of the two hemispheres of the brain can improve our memory
• How to use imagination and association to remember names and facts
• How to use a pegging system to remember lists and numbers

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: ’This session had a good element of personal leaning whereby we learnt a lot about how we typically learn and what encourages us to learn and stay motivated, what kind of person we are in terms of how we are smart, and what suits us best. Overall, another really good session and I enjoyed it.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

10. Working at the Speed of Trust

Understanding the importance of trust when leading/working with others (based on the work of Stephen M R Covey)

Aims: This session aims to explore:

• Examine the benefits of working with trust
• Develop our understanding of the 4 cores of credibility
• Analyse the 13 behaviours of trust

Group Size: 15 people maximum

Feedback: ‘The session engaged all members of the team in reflecting on their own practice within the team and how we can all develop to become more effective.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

11. Assertiveness

The importance of first impressions.

Aims: This session aims to explore:

• Why first impressions are so important
• The differences between being aggressive, assertive and non-assertive
• How to read others’ non-verbal language
• What our bodies are telling others

Group Size: 20 people maximum

Feedback: 'Working as a team leader the session has made me aware of how to present a positive approach through body language even though a situation may not leave me feeling particularly positive – a lot of food for thought – thank you!'

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

12. How to be in Control without Anyone Noticing

The concept of facilitation.

Aims: This session aims to develop our understanding of:

• The concept of facilitation
• The differences between traditional forms of teaching, training and facilitating
• The key skills needed to be effective facilitators
• The benefits of facilitating learning

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: ‘Enjoyable session giving lots of ideas to practice with my team'

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access

13. Developing Effective Teamwork

Simply bringing people together doesn’t naturally lead to effective teams. There are a number of skills involved…

Aims: This session aims to explore:

• The importance of effective teams
• The skills required in successful team-building (using Tuckman’s Model)
• A reflection on our own team’s effectiveness

Group Size: 25 people maximum

Feedback: ‘A considered approach to sharing the 12 Cs of effective teamwork that will enable me to work more effectively in a team. A very productive session.’

Requirements: café style tables, IWB with audio, internet-access