Support and Wellbeing
Advice
E-portfolio (PebblePad)
Employment Information
Teacher Support Networks
Keeping Healthy
Advice and support
The first year as a teacher can be challenging, but you are not on your own – the University of Brighton offers advice and support for its alumni. This page is designed to share key resources covering everything from your PebblePad e-Portfolio to teaching resources to advice on keeping healthy.
Two key University of Brighton services we strongly recommend are our Alumni Association and the University of Brighton Careers Employability Service.
Our Alumni Association is a large and diverse global community. The following page provides advice and support for new alumni including the benefits and services you can access: First year out (brighton.ac.uk)
The Careers and Employability Service provide ongoing careers support to all of our graduates and are happy to help with advice and guidance. Full details can be found here: Careers & Employability Service (sharepoint.com)
Once you finish your course at the University of Brighton you will need to convert your PebblePad account to an ‘alumni’ account. This will enable you to continue using your workbook as you transition from trainee to ECT – the instructions are simple and quick to implement. There is a time constraint on this and you should do it as quickly as you can after you finish your course.
Converting your account will ensure that your PebblePad workbook, including your Career Entry Plan, remains accessible to you and can be shared with your Early Career Teacher (ECT) Induction tutor. Your PebblePad E-portfolio is an excellent resource for your time as an Early Career Teacher.
If you have followed the instructions and still need help, please refer to the [Support] tab on your PebblePad workbook.
Employment information
We have a statutory requirement to report on the progress of all University of Brighton alumni ECTs. We would be grateful if you could keep us informed about your progress.
- Primary and EYITT:
https://brighton.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/employment-information-primary-2023-leavers - Secondary:
https://brighton.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/employment-information-secondary-2023-leavers
Teacher support networks
The networks listed below may be of interest:
- Teacher Support Network
- The Guardian Teacher Network
- Education Support Partnership – the UK charity dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of education staff in schools, colleges and university.
- LGBTed is a network of LGBT+ teachers and leaders, empowering them to be authentic in schools, colleges and universities, to support students and to be an advocate for increasing LGBT+ visibility in our education system.
- “Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Teacher” by Tim Mobbs. This is a short book split into useful sections detailing advice for all areas of the life of a teacher both inside and outside the classroom written by a primary teacher.
- Sage Publishing has a range of resources including free book chapters, special features and guides for students on all education courses covering teacher training, and includes resources to support maintaining positive mental health and well-being.
- SEND videos: Sendgateway hosted by Nasen, have created videos aimed to develop a newly qualified teachers’ knowledge of SEND and to provide helpful resources and tips for the classroom. The videos cover ADHD, Acquired Brain Injury, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Visual Impairment.
Teachers are some of the busiest people in the world, and your hectic schedule will have a tendency to impact on your diet. The food you eat affects more than just your basic health – it also affects your energy levels and your ability to be productive. Healthy eating habits will make you better for yourself and better for your pupils. Your job will be rewarding and interesting, but will also be stressful. You may have plenty of opportunities to exercise your brain, but being in school early and having lots of reasons to stay in school late or do some extra work will leave little time to take care of your physical fitness.
Teacher Health Tips discusses well-being tips to make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthily, taking exercise and keeping hydrated.
