Staff Belonging

Celebrating Our Edurio Staff Belonging Award 

We are delighted to have received an award from Edurio in recognition of staff belonging at our school. This achievement reflects our commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment where every member of our team feels valued, respected and part of our school community. We believe that when staff feel a strong sense of belonging, they are empowered to work together, support one another and provide the very best opportunities for our children. We are incredibly proud of our team and the positive culture we continue to build together. 

Every member of our team matters

At Alexandra Park, we believe that a strong sense of belonging for our staff is essential to creating a school where every child can thrive. Our values of Care, Aspire and Achieve guide not only how we work with children and families, but also how we treat one another as colleagues. We want every member of our team to feel valued, respected, supported and proud to be part of Alexandra Park. We recognise that every colleague brings their own strengths, experiences, perspectives and talents, and that our school is stronger when these are celebrated and shared. Just as every child needs a champion, we believe every member of staff deserves to feel that someone is in their corner.

Care: Relationships built on trust and respect

We aim to create a culture where colleagues feel safe to be themselves, share their ideas, ask for help and talk openly about challenges. Strong relationships, kindness and mutual respect underpin our approach. We recognise the importance of listening to one another, understanding different perspectives and ensuring that everyone feels included in the life of our school.

We put this into practice through:

Welcoming new colleagues: We want new staff to feel part of our community from the outset, with opportunities to build relationships, ask questions and understand our values and ways of working.
Everyday communication: Staff are encouraged to make time for conversations, check in with one another and offer support when a colleague is having a challenging day.
Respecting every role: We value the contribution of everyone in our team, including teachers, teaching assistants, office staff, midday supervisors and our wider school community. Every role helps create the positive environment our children experience.
Listening and responding: We value staff feedback and use opportunities such as belonging questionnaires to reflect on how colleagues experience school life and where we can make improvements.

Aspire: Growing together

We want Alexandra Park to be a place where staff feel encouraged to develop, explore new ideas and fulfil their potential. We support professional learning, collaboration and the sharing of expertise, recognising that we all have something to learn from one another.

We put this into practice through:

Collaborative planning: Teachers are given opportunities to work with subject colleagues, share ideas and plan learning together. We recognise the value of dedicated time and support for collaboration.
Professional development: We provide ongoing opportunities for staff to develop their knowledge and practice, including learning about how children learn, adaptive teaching and approaches that support inclusion.
Sharing expertise: Colleagues are encouraged to contribute their strengths, experiences and ideas, helping us learn from one another and develop a shared approach across school.
Supporting professional growth: We want staff to feel able to ask questions, try new approaches, reflect on what works and seek support without fear of judgement.

Achieve: Recognising and celebrating our contribution

We celebrate the effort, commitment and achievements of our staff. We recognise that working in a school brings both rewarding moments and challenges, and that the care and dedication of our team make a lasting difference to children's lives.

We put this into practice through:

Recognising everyday successes: We take opportunities to acknowledge the thoughtful, caring and creative work colleagues do, including the small moments that make a difference to children.
Celebrating our shared values: Our values of Care, Aspire and Achieve provide a common language for recognising the positive contributions of staff and the ways they support our school community.
Sharing good practice: We encourage colleagues to share successful ideas, approaches and experiences so that others can learn from them and build confidence in their own practice.
Creating opportunities for staff voice: We want colleagues to feel that their views matter and that they can contribute to decisions and improvements that affect their work and the wider school.

Our commitment to staff belonging

Staff belonging is something we build through our everyday actions: how we welcome new colleagues, how we communicate, how we listen, how we recognise one another and how we respond when someone needs support.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they have a voice, where differences are respected and where colleagues can contribute with confidence. We want our staff to feel connected to one another and to the shared values and purpose of Alexandra Park.

When our staff feel cared for, valued and able to belong, they are better supported to create that same sense of belonging for every child.