In schools and education settings, it’s all too easy for our appreciation to focus on the obvious roles. These include, the teachers leading lessons, the heads making big decisions, the staff who are front and centre at events or meetings. But what about everyone else? The midday supervisors keeping children safe in the playground, the site team who arrive before sunrise, the office staff juggling endless admin, the pastoral staff quietly dealing with the hardest conversations, and the cleaners who leave the building spotless every single evening.
Every person in a school contributes to its culture and success, and yet, so often, the recognition doesn’t reach everyone.
Within my supervision sessions with staff working in education settings, we often talk about feeling undervalued, overlooked, or unappreciated.
We want to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we’re valuing staff simply because we’ve bought a box of Celebrations for the staffroom or written a token “thank you” in the weekly newsletter. Gestures like that are lovely, and many people love a free treat, but they’re not enough on their own. When recognition becomes a routine tick-box exercise, people feel it. Staff know when words of appreciation are genuine and when they’re performative.
Over the years, I’ve had some wonderfully supportive managers and employers who’ve made me feel genuinely valued. They have communicated this in different ways, and not all have done as well as others! The ones who stand out for me are the ones who were supportive not just for what I did, but for who I was. That experience shaped how I now work with my own team. I try to recognise people in ways that feel personal and sincere: sending handwritten thank you cards in the post, creating light-hearted certificates that celebrate small wins, or posting public thank-yous on social media. It’s about taking the time to notice.
Of course, recognition isn’t just about words, it’s also about how we structure our workplaces. That’s why we’ve built in thoughtful staff benefits such as birthdays off, paid-for supervision, access to counselling, wellbeing support, and a flexible working pattern. None of these cost the earth, but together they say, “You matter here.”
Because it’s not really about money. It’s about culture. Within my business, it is absolutely about our team and I am well aware I would not be where I am with the business without the support from my two key wonderful supporters, Beth and Carla 
When people feel seen, appreciated, and listened to, they give their best. They’re more likely to stay, grow, and speak well of the organisation they’re part of. In turn, we build a reputation we can be proud of and one where staff don’t just work for us, but with us.
As leaders, we should all be asking ourselves:
- Are we thanking the same people all the time?
- Do we notice the quiet consistency of those who simply turn up and do their job well every single day?
- When we appraise staff, do we really engage with their strengths, challenges, and aspirations? or is it a paper exercise with little follow-up?
Meaningful recognition doesn’t come from policy documents or grand gestures. It comes from daily actions, authentic appreciation, and a genuine interest in our people.
So next time you walk through your school, take a moment to say thank you to everyone. Being kind doesn’t cost a penny, but it might just make someone’s day. And over time, those small moments can transform your whole culture.
If you are a school leader and want to discuss some ways in which we can help you create this supportive and meaningful culture for your staff, drop us an email ella@savellboss.co.uk
