End-of-year wellbeing starts with what we ask teams to do

The end-of-year calendar in an early learning service can fill quickly. Celebrations, transition statements, room changes and preparations for new enrolments all need attention while the everyday work of educating and caring for children continues.

There is plenty to feel proud of. Children have developed friendships and explored new ideas, families have built relationships with educators, and teams have worked through challenges that may never appear in an end-of-year presentation.

Recognising those achievements also means considering the effort behind them. Looking after each other involves thoughtful decisions about what needs to happen, who will do the work and what can reasonably wait.

Make check-ins lead to practical support

Asking how someone is going creates an opportunity to discuss pressures that might otherwise remain unnoticed. Choose a time and place where the person can speak comfortably, with enough space to hear their answer.

What follows should respond to the concern raised. If an educator is struggling to complete documentation, consider competing expectations and whether planned non-contact time has occurred. Support might involve protecting that time, reviewing the task or agreeing on a realistic deadline.

Be You’s educator wellbeing resources include tools for setting professional boundaries, discussing workloads, managing stress and seeking support. These can help frame a conversation, while leaders remain responsible for considering what can change within the workplace. Agreeing on a next step and checking back gives that conversation a practical purpose. 

Give managers clear priorities and shared responsibility

Service managers can spend much of their day responding to matters outside their original task list. A staffing absence, family concern or incident can leave planned work waiting until everyone else has gone home.

Approved providers, owners and area managers should help review those competing demands. Asking What do you need from me this week? can open a discussion about outstanding decisions and responsibilities that can be shared. The outcome should be clear priorities, including what can wait and how essential deadlines will be supported.

Be You also provides wellbeing tools for leaders through its educator wellbeing hub, recognising their own needs alongside those of their teams. Setting aside time to use a relevant resource together may help identify an issue that needs attention. Any resulting action should have someone responsible for following it through. 

Plan celebrations and learning within available time

End-of-year events can be meaningful occasions for children, families and educators. Before adding another performance, display or family activity, consider its purpose, the preparation involved and when that work will happen. Teams should have room to suggest simpler approaches.

The same consideration applies to professional learning. Be You’s early learning events page offers opportunities to explore mental health and wellbeing topics and practical strategies. Leaders can review available sessions with their teams and plan participation within working time, with an opportunity afterwards to discuss what would be useful locally. 

Recognition matters in ordinary moments too. Thanking an educator for their patient support of a child or acknowledging a manager’s steady leadership makes their contribution visible. As leave and holiday rosters are finalised, appreciation should sit alongside clear support contacts, manageable expectations and consideration for colleagues who will continue working.