Education Support Partnership
| Founded | 1877 |
|---|---|
| Type | charity |
| Focus | providing practical and emotional support to the education sector |
Area served |
England 08000 562 561 Scotland 0800 564 2270 Wales 08000 855 088 |
Key people | Julian Stanley, Chief Executive |
| Website | http://www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk |
Education Support Partnership is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the entire education workforce.
In September 2015 three sister organisations, Teacher Support Network, Recourse and Worklife Support, merged to create a new charity Education Support Partnership.
Initially established 140 years ago as a benevolent fund for teachers, but today supporting those in higher education and further education as well as schools, they understand the unique pressures of working in education.
They champion good mental health and wellbeing of teachers, lecturers, school leaders and support staff throughout their careers and during retirement as well as supporting education leaders with a wide range of tools to help improve professional and organisational development too.
Education Support Partnership services are open to trainees, newly qualified teachers, serving teachers, headteachers, and retired professionals, teaching assistants and all education staff, as well as staff in the adult, further, and higher education sectors. The charity's areas of expertise include finance, housing, care issues, health, wellbeing at work, and career development.
The Telephone Support Line offers free, information, advice, and solution-focused counselling to all those working in the education sector. The helpline is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year on 0800 562561.[1]
Education Support Partnership is the new name for the joined forces of:
- Teacher Support Network (England).
- Teacher Support Cymru.
- Teacher Support Scotland.
- Recourse (formerly College and University Support Network.)
History
The organisation began as a benevolent fund for teachers, which was set up by the National Union of Teachers in 1877.
In September 1999, it launched its telephone counselling service for teachers suffering from work-related stress. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the line took over 11,000 calls in its first year.
In 2001, it began offering online services such as email counselling and fact sheets of information useful to teachers.
In 2001, Teacher Support Scotland was established to provide specific support to teachers in Scotland. A year later Teacher Support Cymru was set up to provide similar support to teachers in Wales.
In 2005, Teacher Support Network trustees took the decision to formally invest in a policy and public affairs function.
In 2006, the charity launched the College and University Support Network with, the support of the University and College Union The new charity provided specialist support to all those working in post-school education. In 2010, College and University Support Network was relaunched as Recourse.
In 2008, Teacher Support Network conducted a literature review which, for the first time, pulled together and evaluated the evidence available about teacher well-being.
In 2010, high-profile cases, including the Peter Harvey case, led to an increase in calls from teachers to the network.[2]
In 2010, the Teacher Support Network and British Council for School Environments produced the 2010 School Environment Survey, with promotional assistance from Association of Teachers and Lecturers BBC News.[3]
In 2015, the Teacher Support Network, Recourse and Worklife Support Partnership became Education Support Partnership
Support
I can honestly say that the support I received from the Education Support Partnership has kept me in teaching. Without that first phone call I can guarantee I would have left teaching. - Victoria, Education Support Partnership helpline user
Education Support Partnership's vision is for all teachers and lecturers to have access to practical and emotional support to improve their wellbeing, professional effectiveness and personal fulfilment.
The charity has a range of services available to suit teachers' needs including:
- 24/7 helpline available throughout the UK (08000 562 561)
- Financial assistance
- Training and development fund
- Online information & advice
- Research
- E-newsletters
Reports
some key publications
- 2010 School Environments Survey:[4]
- Beyond the school gate:
- in partnership with Parentline Plus
- in partnership with the British Council for School Environments
See also
- Bullying in teaching
- Inside the 'Samaritans for teachers' hotline that shows just how stressful the classroom can be