Foundational leadership skills
The skills to lead a team do not develop by accident. They take deliberate focus over time. Our facilitators will work with you to develop your ability to create shared understandings of good practice, to set and maintain expectations and to develop systems and processes that keep children and their learning at the heart of all decision-making.
Regardless of whether you are a room leader, head teacher, curriculum leader or centre manager (or aspire to be one of these) we will customise our content and approach to provide you with what you need to be a more effective leader.
Induction and mentoring
The Teaching Council requires all services to have a programme of induction and mentoring to support new graduates become fully certificated. However, for a range of reasons this expected induction and mentoring provision is very variable. It may be that leaders do not know what is required or it may be that those who may be in the position to mentor do not have the knowledge and/or skill to do s confidently.
Whether you would like a review of and feedback on your current system, need to build your system from scratch or want to develop the skills and effectiveness of your mentors, we can provide you with the guidance necessary.
Research clearly shows that when teachers (particularly beginning teachers) feel well supported in their roles performance, job satisfaction and retention are enhanced. Induction and mentoring are well worth making sure you get it right.
Giving effective feedback
Leaders often report that undertaking observations of teaching practice and giving effective feedback are what they find most challenging.
What do I look at?
What do I look for?
How can I provide feedback in a way that doesn’t get a defensive reaction?
What do I do if the teacher doesn’t make the required changes?
This work explores these questions and more, providing useful frameworks and principles on which to base your observations of practice, feedback and conversations that support teachers’ on-going learning.
If you are in a position where you need to give feedback to others to support their learning and growth this is for you. You will learn how to observe, what to look for and how to document this effectively while supporting teachers in their general learning and growth, their professional growth cycles and appraisal processes.
Time, priority and change management
Professional leaders face the ongoing challenge of balancing complex administrative demands, regulatory shifts, and pedagogical leadership.
This work is specifically designed to equip you with practical, context-specific strategies to manage time effectively, determine high-impact priorities, and lead sustainable change. We will explore proven frameworks for distinguishing between urgent and important tasks, enabling you to align your daily schedules with your service’s strategic vision and philosophy.
We can also address the human elements of change management, providing you with the tools to navigate changes smoothly while maintaining team morale and well-being.
Having difficult (important) conversations
We’ve all walked away from a conversation thinking “that didn’t go the way I hoped.” Whether it ended in defensiveness, stayed safely on the surface, or simply didn’t shift anything.
Effective communication is the cornerstone of strong leadership, yet addressing sensitive issues remains one of the most challenging responsibilities of leaders. Whether addressing performance concerns, navigating diverse perspectives, or managing complex situations with whānau, leaders must balance professional boundaries with empathy and respect. We explore why some conversations are so hard to navigate, and offer a clear, structured approach that is both respectful and purposeful. This work is designed to transform apprehensive managers into courageous, constructive communicators.
Drawing on established communication frameworks, you will learn how to prepare for, initiate, and guide conversations toward positive, collaborative outcomes. By developing the skills to address issues early and constructively, you will build stronger professional relationships, foster team accountability, and cultivate a harmonious learning environment that ultimately benefits all.