School Wellbeing INSET Day: Practical Training for Staff is a practical guide for senior leaders, pastoral teams, teachers and classroom assistants.
Schools often know wellbeing matters, but staff need more than a general reminder. This page focuses on planning a useful staff training day before the school year becomes busy, with clear planning decisions and practical steps.
HIP Psychology supports schools across Northern Ireland and Ireland with pupil workshops, staff training, parent sessions and whole-school wellbeing planning.
Why this matters now
The start of a term, a staff training window or a pastoral review point is a good time to make wellbeing support more consistent. Pupils need language they can use, staff need confidence in the first response, and leaders need a plan that fits the normal school week.
Key decisions for school leaders
Before booking a session, agree the decisions that will keep the work focused and useful.
- Which staff groups need shared language
- What pupil needs are showing up most often
- How safeguarding and pastoral routes will be explained
- What follow-up should happen after the day
Practical activities schools can use
Useful wellbeing work should be realistic, safe and repeatable. The activities below are designed to support staff confidence without asking pupils or adults to disclose personal experiences in public.
- Scenario practice around pupil distress
- Short scripts for first responses
- Mapping current support routes
- Agreeing two or three repeatable staff routines
How to keep the session safe
Set clear boundaries, avoid public disclosure, explain the support route and brief staff before the session. If a sensitive issue is raised, staff should know who records the concern and who follows up.
What staff need afterwards
Training is strongest when staff leave with short scripts, agreed routines and a simple route for escalation. Leaders should check whether staff feel clearer about what to say, what to record and when to ask for help.
How HIP Psychology can help
HIP Psychology can deliver school wellbeing INSET day support as a workshop, INSET input, twilight CPD session, parent evening or part of a wider school wellbeing plan.
Useful guidance to align with
Schools can connect this work with current guidance and resources, including Department of Education emotional health and wellbeing guidance, Department of Education safeguarding guidance, Department of Education effective practice in educational settings.
Related HIP Psychology resources
Useful related HIP resources include school wellbeing calendar, staff wellbeing training, mental health training for teachers, pastoral care training, pupil wellbeing strategy, teacher wellbeing workshops.
Need help planning the next step? Contact HIP Psychology to discuss workshops, staff training or whole-school wellbeing support.
FAQs
What should schools include in school wellbeing INSET day?
Start with the practical school context: the pupils or staff affected, the support routes already in place, and the next action staff can repeat consistently.
How can schools keep wellbeing training safe?
Avoid public disclosure, brief staff before sensitive topics are discussed, name the support route clearly and connect the session to safeguarding and pastoral systems.
Can HIP Psychology adapt this for primary or post-primary schools?
Yes. HIP Psychology can adapt workshops, staff training and parent sessions for primary, post-primary and secondary school audiences across Northern Ireland and Ireland.