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By Claire Morgan, Strategic Director

17 March 2022

Blog post | 17 March 2022

Making wellbeing a priority – Annual Report 2020-21 insights

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In the second blog in our Annual Report series, we look at how non-maintained settings, schools and PRUs supported learners’ wellbeing during disruption to education in 2020-21. Watch the short animation or read on for insights from our engagement activity with leaders and teachers.

Putting learners first

Supporting staff

Adapting practice

Sector summaries

Putting learners first

It’s no surprise that in 2020-21 all providers prioritised learners’ wellbeing. They built on links with families and set up ways to keep in touch with learners. This meant that they could identify and address issues quickly - which was particularly important for vulnerable learners, who struggled most with lockdown.

In many cases, being more involved with learners and their families led to education providers becoming vital sources of support and guidance for their communities.

In turn, schools and settings better understood their communities, which benefited learners and their families as they developed confidence in providers.

These relationships are likely to help schools’ vision and aspirations for Curriculum for Wales. Contributions from families and the wider community can help them to understand the needs of their learners and how they can realise the four purposes of the curriculum.

Supporting staff

We can’t underestimate the impact of the last academic year on those working in education. Our Chief Inspector at that time highlighted their ‘remarkable resilience’.

The pressure on staff was unprecedented. They managed challenging situations and made themselves increasingly accessible to learners and their families.

We often saw leaders placing the health, welfare and safety of their staff above their own wellbeing. And this was on top of prioritising the wellbeing of their learners and families.

Adapting practice

Non-maintained settings, schools and PRUs shared with us many different ways in which they adapted. The short animation in this blog brings to life some of these strategies.

For more cameos, explore the summaries for your sector from the Annual Report.