Training and appraising support staff, and (often-dreaded) restructures, shouldn't be a challenge. We have a range of expert advice to guide you through each process. Summary Support staff are becoming increasingly influential . Evaluate your CPD policy for potential improvement. Consider creating...

Optimus content lead Alex Masters supports the crucial role of the SBM and welcomes this year’s NASBM awards . It’s distressing to hear a grown man crying on the phone. This was someone I’d never spoken to before: a school business manager sitting alone in his office and at his wit’s end. This SBM...

In a school environment it is not just the pupils who may suffer mental health issues. Gareth D. Morewood reminds us that supporting staff through stressful situations is equally important. It has been reported recently that pupils' mental health tops headteachers' concerns . However, I think it is...

Looking to introduce mindfulness into your school? Elizabeth Holmes explains why there's potential in the idea, and how you can get started. After some time in the wilderness, mindfulness has recently enjoyed wide-scale exposure and drawn the attention of researchers keen to determine precisely how...