What I wish I knew with Ilse Melligan

After 1 year of teaching Ilse was wondering if teaching was the job for her. Working in a school where the headteacher bullied everyone had left her disillusioned by a career in education, even though she loved teaching her class and working with her very supportive colleagues. Having plucked up the courage to change schools, which was no easy task due to the unpleasantness she had to go through to make it happen, Ilse realised that teaching was definitely what she wanted to do. This inspiring podcast shares the lows and many subsequent highs of Ilse's varied career in education, and how her own experiences helped her to realise the importance of improving heath and wellbeing education for primary aged pupils, so that they can take care of themselves physically and mentally for the rest of their lives. This led her to set up The Children's Health Project in 2016. She now works with hundreds of schools and helps the staff and children to live their best possible life, whatever circumstances they find themselves in.

In this podcast we discuss ...

• How brilliant friends and amazing teachers at primary school, who were creative and passionate about their job, made school so exciting that she became keen to teach.
• The importance of loving what you are teaching and enjoying learning with the children in your class.
• The fact that great teams matter and everyone needs to commit to make where you work as good as it can be. So love the place you work and love the people you work with for then you will be able to do your best.
• The way inspiring leaders, inspire others to achieve great things.
• Getting away from bullies in the work place as soon as you can is essential. Never accept it or put up with it. Working with a cruel person is very harmful and may make you quit. It definitely doesn’t happen in many schools, so look around and find the place where you can thrive. Seek out the support of others to help you get you through situations like this.
• Having secret phone calls in the pre-mobile era was the way that Ilse escaped from her horrific situation.
• How returning to the school where she had been bullied as a teacher was a good experience, as the new headteacher welcomed her, explained that the culture was now very different and invited her to come back any time.
• How special it is to be a teacher and being able to spend time with the children, especially your first class.
• Being aware of the influence you have as a teacher on the children you teach. This can never be underestimated. How do we know? Because some contact their old teachers many years later due to the special pupil-teacher bond that was formed.
• Developing your classroom community as a safe and secure environment is a good thing for everyone. Prioritise people at all times, because it’s not what you say and do as a teacher that is most important, it’s how you make the people feel that matters most.
• Learning can be difficult, but any time a child is struggling then make sure you listen really hard to what the child tells you about what is making learning tough on any particular day.
• Why sports days are special events for everybody if the school culture is right. You must try to make it an event for everyone to enjoy, not just those who love competing.
• Being engaged in physical activity is a right for everyone and must be promoted so that we are ensuring every child can be physically active.
• Using sport to enhance self-esteem can be really powerful. And not just for those who are great at sport. It is an opportunity for all when done in the right way.
• Creating joy through achievement can be done in many ways and is different for different people.
• Making sure that all members of the school are really clear about what doing the best for everyone means and looks like every minute of every day.
• How The Children’s Health and Wellbeing Project takes a positive approach to wellbeing. Don’t spend endless time warning pupils what not to do, teach them about all the great things they can do so they can take care of themselves. It's learning for life.

You can contact Ilse on ...

LinkedIn  Ilse Melligan FCCT

For more information on Ilse's ground breaking work  Home - The Children's Health Project