The MTPT Project’s partnership with Harris Federation has now supported 25 colleagues over the parental leave and return to work period.
This February saw the 25th Harris Federation colleague sign up for 1:1 coaching to support her as she returns to work after maternity leave.
In 2019, when Founder Emma Sheppard presented The MTPT Project’s fledgling coaching programmes to all the Harris Principals at the Principals Executive meeting, Harris became the first multi-academy trust to introduce 1:1 parental leave transition coaching with The MTPT Project to their staff. To date, colleagues from 13 different academies, and Harris’s central team have enjoyed four to six sessions of 1:1 coaching with a qualified and experienced MTPT Project coach external to Harris Federation.
We already know the huge impact that coaching can have on parent-teachers, particularly mothers, over the maternity, immediate and extended return to work period, boosting wellbeing and occupational mobility at a time when working parents – particularly mothers – are vulnerable to burnout, stagnation and attrition.
One Harris Primary colleague used the coaching to support her as she returned to work and continued her career progression, moving from a Phase Leader to an Assistant Principal role. She said, “Thank you especially for celebrating my strengths as person. I have never had an opportunity to do something like this before. It has enabled me to think positively on some really hard days. I have been promoted to Assistant Principal from September, and your support has been hugely instrumental to this so I can’t thank you enough!”
Harris currently has a gender pay gap of 17.2% – slightly lower than the 18.1% average for the education sector and, whilst such pay gaps occur for complex reasons, the motherhood penalty that we see across all of our schools probably has a lot to do with this.
Coaching is a hugely effective way of supporting colleagues to navigate hurdles, and communicate their needs so that they can find a balance that works for them and their families.
A secondary Lead Practitioner who received coaching during her maternity leave and as she returned to work told us, “The outstanding coaching helped me understand problems and provided me with a safe space to think through solutions. I really loved the coaching sessions and will be encouraging all parents working for Harris to sign up!”
In supporting parent-colleagues Harris Federation blazed a trail for other Trusts to provide similar support. In recent years, Oasis Community Learning, Greater Manchester Education Trust, The Howard Partnership Trust and Mercian Trust, have followed suite and now also offer 1:1 and group coaching to staff who are parents.
If you are Harris colleague who could benefit from this 1:1 coaching support, complete this simple Google Form and choose Harris as your funder. We’ll be in touch to match you with your coach and support you through your return!
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