What are the early signs to look for that you’ll be happy in a school? How can you be your ‘whole self’ in the classroom, corridors and halls? How can you build healthy habits into your daily routines? As an Early Career Teacher (ECT) you are likely brimming with questions about how to look after your own wellbeing whilst navigating a busy and challenging school environment. With answers from a diverse panel of 10 expert contributors, this dip-in-and-out guide shares practice-based perspectives to help you manage the demands of teaching and foster a sense of balance and fulfilment.

Each accessible chapter is framed around the questions that matter most to ECTs, covering key topics from finding the right school culture, growing your identity as a teacher, and balancing professional and personal commitments, to prioritising wellbeing when you are ‘too busy’. Contributors draw from extensive first-hand experience, as well as research-based strategies, to answer common concerns and offer relatable, easy-to-implement ideas and tools which will help you to prioritise self-care and embrace sustainable working practices. Throughout, reflective questions from the Editors encourage you to consider your own journey and to take ownership of your growth and wellbeing.

Your wellbeing is not a luxury—it’s a necessity and the bedrock of functioning well in your personal and professional life. This rich range of perspectives will offer you honest practical insights and approaches to ensure you not just survive but flourish in your teaching career. It is essential reading for ECTs and a useful staffroom resource for all education settings.