Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve our health and stay connected to our community, in turn helping us feel less lonely and isolated. This year’s aim is to discover the #MagicOfWalking and celebrate the many health and happiness benefits of walking and wheeling.

Research shows that even a small amount of physical activity can make a significant difference to our health. Just 11 minutes of daily activity has been found to potentially prevent 1 in 10 premature deaths!

Exercise releases feel-good hormones, so walking can:

• Improve your mood,
• Reduce stress and anxiety,
• Help you sleep better,
• Increase your energy,
• Improve memory and problem-solving skills.

Do you walk enough?

It is recommended that adults aged 19-64 should exercise for 150 minutes per week. To achieve this, you could take a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day, for 5 days per week.

However, if you can’t manage 30 minutes per day then taking a 10 minute brisk walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes per week.  You could build this up over a few weeks until you can walk for 30 minutes.

It can be easy to increase the amount you walk by making small changes such as going for a walk during your lunch break or perhaps you could take your meetings outside and walk whilst you talk. A small change can make a big difference.

How does walking improve your physical health?

• It increases cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness,
• Reduces the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases,
• Helps to manage and improve conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol,
• Reduces body fat,
• Increases muscle strength and endurance.

With summer fast approaching and warmer weather starting to come through, there is no better time to start walking more often and reap the physical and mental benefits that come alongside it. A small change such as walking to school or work, will have a positive impact. If it is too far to walk to school or work, then you could park further away and benefit from increased energy for the rest of the day. There is no better time, why not start today!

How well do you sleep?

Friday 15th March is World Sleep Day. The aim is to bring people together to discuss sleep problems, help to find solutions and prevent sleep problems for those who don’t yet have them. World Sleep Day has been held every year, since 2008, on the Friday before the March Equinox, which marks when day and night are roughly the same length. After the equinox, the day will be longer than the night.

The theme this year is Sleep Equity for Global Health. Sleep is essential to health but measurable differences in sleep health persist across populations across the world, creating additional burdens and reinforcing health inequities.

World Sleep Day is useful for educating people all over the world about the importance of sleep, as well as changing the way people view and experience sleep by giving them valuable resources to help them in their daily lives.

How long should you be sleeping per night?

It is recommended that adults up to the age of 64, need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. However, almost 1 in 5 people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep!

Signs and symptoms of sleep problems:

• Finding it difficult to fall asleep.
• Lying awake for long periods at night.
• Waking up several times during the night.
• Waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep.
• Feeling down or having a lower mood.
• Having difficulty concentrating.
• Being more irritable than usual.

Longer term sleep problems can have many negative affects such as on our relationships and social life, and it can have us feeling tired all the time, eating more and not being able to do daily tasks.

Humans spend 1/3 of their life sleeping so how can you improve your sleep?

• Go to sleep and wake up at similar times every day.
• Sleep in a calm and restful environment such as a cool, dark and quiet room.
• Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol before bed.
• Regularly exercise every day.
• If you worry a lot about life before falling asleep, write your worries down.
• Try not to watch TV or use electronic devices before sleeping.

Sleep is so important to all aspects of our lives which is why it is vital to have good sleep health.

Do you have any sleep tips? Let us know!

Today is Pancake Day so get your eggs, butter, sugar, and lemon juice at the ready! Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday) has fallen around a week earlier than last year and it falls exactly 47 days before Easter Sunday.

Pancakes have become such a popular tradition on Shrove Tuesday, that on this day 52 million eggs are used in the UK! That’s 22 million more than the average day!

The history of Pancake Day:

Shrove Tuesday occurs the day before Ash Wednesday, and it comes from the word ‘shrive’ which means to listen to someone’s sins and forgive them. In preparation for Lent centuries ago, those observing the fast would use Shrove Tuesday to also purify and remove any of the items that they were foregoing for the 40 days from their home. Traditionally this included meat, fish, eggs, fats, milk and sugar therefore Pancake Day was developed out of the practical need to use up all the remaining eggs, butter, milk or other animal products that were in the house before Lent began.

How is Pancake Day celebrated today?

Whilst lots of people still eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, there are also a few other traditions that still take place.

Pancake Races:

Pancake races are held on Shrove Tuesday, with the most famous one taking place in Olney, Buckinghamshire. It is said that pancake races started after a housewife in the village of Olney was in the process of frying pancakes when she heard the church bell summoning the congregation. So she didn’t miss the service, she ran down the street with her frying pan, tossing the pancake to prevent it from burning. Thus, the tradition of pancake racing began.

Shrovetide Football:

Another popular tradition that still takes place is Ashbourne’s Royal Shrovetide Football. Played in the Derbyshire town of Ashbourne every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, this exciting and dramatic game is thought to be one of the oldest forms of football in the world. Unlike a conventional football match, Shrovetide Football is much longer and is played over two eight-hour periods. The goals are three miles apart and there are very few rules. The ball is rarely kicked but instead moves through a giant ‘hug’. There is no set pitch, and the game is played throughout the entire town, so shops and businesses board up their windows in preparation!

Will you be eating pancakes today? Send us your pictures of your pancakes!

Today is Christmas Jumper Day! It is the day to put on Christmas jumpers and help children in the UK and around the world get the best future possible.

Every December, millions of people across the UK and beyond put on a festive jumper at their workplace, school or with friends and make a donation to help give children the future they deserve.

Since the first Christmas Jumper Day in 2012, over £35 million has been raised for children in the UK and across the world. In 2022, £5 million was raised, including £2 million of match funding from the UK Government and over 2 million school children and 24,000 workplaces took part.

What do Save the Children do?

 There is more to Christmas Jumper Day than wearing a festive jumper, you’ll be helping children facing serious issues like war, hunger, and poverty. This year, with so many children having a really tough time, getting involved matters more than ever! In the UK and around the world, Save the Children make sure children are kept safe, healthy and in learning.

Who have Save the Children helped?

Save the Children have helped 45 million children across the world get medicine, good food and the education they need.

How have Save the Children made a difference?

Around the world:

• As a children’s rights charity, the movement operates in 115 countries, providing unique care to children, based on their specific needs including:
• Vaccinating children in remote regions.
• Providing antibiotics for pneumonia treatment.
• Setting up learning centres after disasters.
• Working to bring British children home from Syria.

In the UK:

• Save the Children work in homes, nurseries, schools, and communities to narrow the gap between children living in poverty and their better off classmates.
• When COVID hit, children’s lives were turned upside down. To help, Save the Children started an Emergency Grant for the worst affected families. So far Save the Children has helped over 10,000 children with early learning packs, food vouchers and other essentials.

Will you be taking part this year? Send us your pictures! 

Today is BBC Children in Need! BBC Children in Need believes every child deserves the chance to thrive, and together we can make this happen! This year’s theme is The Great SPOTacular Appeal Night, which is encouraging you to be SPOTacular with lots of fun ways to raise money and take part in the appeal. Will you be raising money in your school today?

BBC Children in Need work with organisations across the UK to support children and young people as they overcome challenges. They exist to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK and their vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.

Mental health challenges in children have increased by 50% and ¾ of children that are struggling with mental health are not getting the help they need.

However, with your ongoing support, Children in Need are continuing to fund thousands of project workers across the UK. These individuals provide the positive relationships needed to help children tackle the challenges that affect them daily.

How will you be raising money?

There are so many ways to raise money for BBC Children in Need. Whatever you love to do, from sport to crafts to baking, it can become a challenge ready to be tackled. Not only can fundraising activities be fun and challenging but they also do a huge amount of good! The donations that you raise really can change lives.

Lat year, a massive £35 million was raised on the night of BBC Children in Need’s TV Appeal and since the very first telethon televised in 1980 over £1 billion has been raised in donations and fundraising! Also, for the first time, every pound you give or raise will be matched pound for pound by Postcode Education Trust, supported through People’s Postcode Lottery. How much do you think can be raised this year?

Everyone here at Teacher Absence will be taking part in the Great SPOTacular Appeal, let us know how you will be too!

Approximately 13 million women in the UK are either peri or post-menopausal.

Since 2009, the IMS (International Menopause Society) alongside the World Health Organisation, designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month. The purpose is to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.

Menopause occurs when women stop menstruating for 12 months which is due to reduced oestrogen levels. Most women reach menopause when they are around 50 but the lead up can take up to 10 years!

Whilst there are lots of symptoms, every woman will experience menopause differently, they can include but are not limited to:

• Memory loss
• Hot flushes
• Headaches
• Sleep problems

Have you or your staff had to take time off due to the symptoms of menopause?

Around two thirds of women say there is a general lack of support and understanding around menopause. That’s why we have we have partnered with award winning health and wellbeing provider, Smart Clinic, in order to provide staff with support and guidance if they are going through the process of menopause.

A decline in oestrogen levels during menopause can increase cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure highlighting why it is so important that we raise awareness of other risk factors to the menopause, on top of the day to day symptoms that women can suffer from. Did you know that the menopause can affect cardiovascular health?

Ways to manage symptoms:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – tablets, skin patches or gels and implants that relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen.
• Cut down on caffeine, alcohol, and spicy food as these have all been known to be a trigger for hot flushes
• Practicing mindfulness or counselling may help with mood changes
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – a type of talking therapy that can help with low mood and anxiety
• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly
• Getting plenty of sleep

It’s time to end the stigma that is often associated with menopause by supporting and improving the lives of women across the world.

In a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization, it was found that one in four children in the UK don’t get enough sleep.

Children who don’t get enough sleep can have problems with attention, memory and problem solving making focusing at school even more challenging.

So how much sleep should children be getting? It is recommended primary school aged children should get between 10 -11 hours of sleep a night, and secondary school children should get between 9-10 hours of sleep per night.

Factors of good sleep for children:

• Exercise

Exercise is important for everyone, especially children. Exercising during the day helps children to feel sleepier at bedtime, in turn helping them fall asleep quicker and then stay asleep during the night making those PE lessons and after schools sports clubs even more important.

• Diet

A healthy, well-balanced diet helps to promote good sleep. It is recommended that children do not have a heavy meal close to bedtime however if they do have a snack, foods such as bread and cereal are best for a good night sleep. Do you feel your school provides healthy nutritious lunch options?

• Environment

A child’s bedroom should be calm, quiet, dark and cool to ensure the best conditions for sleep. Some children may also feel safer with a night light.

So, what happens when children don’t get enough sleep? The effects that a lack of sleep have on children at school can be massive. On average, it is believed children need two to four more hours sleep a night than adults to have the same level of concentration. Therefore, if a child has poor concentration, they are more likely to struggle in school and recall less from previous lessons they have been taught. This could then link to poor grades and exam results.

Furthermore, bad behaviour may also be linked to poor sleep quality. Children are more likely to misbehave or become aggressive as a result of bad sleep as well as this, impulsivity and hyperactivity are two further effects of not getting enough sleep. Subsequently, if children are less likely to achieve and succeed in school due to poor sleep quality, then they are even less likely if they also have poor behave as a consequence of poor sleep.

Do you think children are getting enough sleep? Let us know!

The last 12 months has been a difficult time to say the least.

Almost everyone has been affected by the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. Whether dealing with the loss of someone close or simply worrying about when things will return to normal, many have been struggling to maintain a good state of mental health.

The level of awareness about the importance of mental health has improved over the last few years, which is obviously great news. But whilst there are still millions of people suffering in silence, we must all strive to do more. And you don’t have to do anything extravagant to make a difference. When it comes to supporting people with their mental health, the small things really do count.

If someone you know seems to be struggling and you want to help, simply pick up the phone or pop over for a chat (socially distanced and outdoors of course). This can make a huge difference – demonstrating that you care and reassuring them that they have a place to turn and someone to talk to.

Talking is key. As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Very cliché, but never truer. Just being listened to can help someone feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If they open up to you, it might encourage you to do the same.

Another great strategy for improving mental wellbeing is through nature – the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness week.

During the long months of the pandemic, millions of us turned to the outdoors. Speaking from experience, it really does help. Fresh air, the change of scenery, and a momentary release of any worries or anxiety.

We all have different experiences of nature, and different reasons for wanting to connect with it more. You might find you get something completely different from one activity compared to someone else. But whatever it is, get outdoors.

Capitalise on the benefits nature unquestionable provides to your mental (and physical) wellbeing. And why not share your stories with us others. After all, the best way to raise awareness is by telling others!

Join the discussion on how you’re connecting with nature by using the hashtags #ConnectWithNature #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

One of the most difficult aspects of becoming a teacher is learning how to motivate your students. It is also one of the most important. Pupils who are not motivated will not learn effectively. They won’t retain information, they won’t participate and some of them may even become disruptive. A student can be unmotivated for an array of reasons. For instance, they may simply feel that they have no interest in the subject, or they find the teachers methods boring. Some may simply be preoccupied by external distractions.

When it comes to motivating students there is no one-size-fits-all approach. As individuals we are all different, therefore we are all motivated by different things. Some students are self-motivated with an innate love of learning. Some students are motivated by extrinsic factors such as their parent’s expectations, or the knowledge that they will earn a place on a particular course if they work hard.

Other students are motivated by a desire to avoid failure and will often do what it takes to pass an exam or course, but they won’t choose to go beyond the minimum required as a consequence of their fear of failure. Nonetheless, even students lacking that natural drive can be inspired by a good teacher. This involves making learning fun and encouraging students to reach their full potential.

To understand what the best methods for motivating students are, it is important to know how motivation in the classroom works. James Middleton, Joan Littlefield, and Rich Lehrer have proposed the following model of academic motivation.

First, given the opportunity to engage in a learning activity a student determines if the activity is one that is known to be interesting. If so, the student engages in the activity. If not, then the student evaluates the activity on two factors – the stimulation (e.g. challenge, curiosity, fantasy) it provides and the personal control (e.g. free choice, not too difficult) it affords.

If the student perceives the activity as stimulating and controllable, then the student tentatively labels the activity as interesting and engages in it. If either condition becomes insufficient, then the student disengages from the activity, unless some extrinsic motivator influences the student to continue.

If the activity is repeatedly deemed stimulating and controllable then the student may deem the activity interesting. As such, the student will be more likely to engage with the activity in the future.

If over time activities that are deemed interesting provide little stimulation or control, then the student will remove the activity from his or her mental list of interesting activities.

Based on this model, one of the main challenges for teachers is providing learning activities that are both stimulating and offer students a degree of personal control.

Here are a few more ideas of how teachers can motivate their students:

Get to know your students on a personal level. This will allow you to understand what stimulates them and what they struggle with. Taking a personal interest in students learning will help inspire them to work hard. Moreover, it will create mutual respect between you and your class and minimise the likelihood of classroom disruption.

Give students as much control over their own education as possible. Let students choose paper and project topics that interest them. Assess them in a variety of ways, whether its tests, papers, projects or presentations. This gives students more control over how they show their understanding to you.

Be free with your praise and constructive in your criticism. Negative comments should relate to particular performances, not the individual themselves. Offer non-judgmental feedback on students’ work, stress opportunities to improve and avoid dividing students into sheep and goats.

Do something different. For instance, why not write personalised uplifting messages across your student’s desks in the aim to give them a boost of confidence before an exam. Gestures such as this can help to demonstrate that you genuinely care about the success of your students. You will then become an extrinsic motivator for them as they won’t want to feel as though they have let you down if they don’t work towards achieving their full potential.

George Orwell’s political fable Animal Farm has been voted the nation’s favourite ever school book in new research commissioned for International Children’s Book Day 2021.

The study, conducted by Oxford Home Schooling, asked 2,000 of the nation’s adults which books they most enjoyed reading when they were at school, with Orwell’s classic picked by 25% of respondents. 1984 also came in fourth place.

In second place was Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with 21% of the vote, followed by John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men (19%).

Orwell and Dickens both appear twice in the top 10, as does William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is the UK’s favourite play by The Bard, ahead of Macbeth.

The majority of the most popular books were written in the 1900s, with just three publications from the 21st century making the top 40. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a Holocaust Novel written by John Boyne was the highest rated work from this millennium (published in 2006).

The UK’s top 10 favourite school books are:

1. Animal Farm (George Orwell)
2. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
3. Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)
4. 1984 (George Orwell)
5. Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)
6. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
7. Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
8. Macbeth (William Shakespeare)
9. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)
10. Lord of the Flies (William Golding)

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at Oxford Home Schooling, said: “The books we read at school can affect our general interest in reading in later life, so it’s really important that people enjoy the novels given to them.

“Animal Farm is an incredibly powerful story and it’s not surprising to see that people remember it fondly. It also topped our rankings when we ran this study five years ago, showing that its popularity is enduring.

“However, it’s also interesting to see other works creep up towards the top of the lists. We’ll have to see whether Orwell can complete a hat-trick in years to come, or whether a new favourite will emerge!”