Sustaining Young Teachers’ Wellbeing at School

"<< Background >>The ""YouWell"" project was initiated to address the critical challenges faced by novice teachers in adapting to the school environment. Across European countries, teacher retention had been a pressing issue, with many leaving the profession prematurely due to insufficient support, motivation, and emotional stability. The project tackled this need by fostering sustainable conditions to support these educators during their initial professional journey. Partners from Bulgaria, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Belgium collaborated to create a supportive ecosystem. By addressing both the personal and social dimensions of teacher integration, the project empowered novice teachers to build resilience, maintain intrinsic motivation, and thrive in their roles. It also highlighted mentoring and coaching as pivotal tools for retaining talented educators and enhancing the school climate.<< Objectives >>The ""YouWell"" project aimed to enhance the professional adaptation and long-term retention of novice teachers by fostering intrinsic motivation and resilience to the challenges of teaching.It developed an Induction Programme to support the integration of novice teachers into the educational environment, addressing their emotional and professional needs. The project also empowered experienced teachers to act as mentor-coaches, guiding and supporting their new colleagues. Furthermore, it raised awareness among educational institutions and school leaders about the long-term benefits of mentoring for improving school climate and human resources management.Specific achievements included the development of a competence model for mentor-coach and mentee-coachee roles, as well as a training course for mentors. Practical resources such as a handbook and a self-learning guide were created. Fifteen mentor-coaches were trained, followed by pilot implementation with 52 novice teachers. Promotion events were held in Bulgaria, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Belgium to disseminate the project’s outcomes.<< Implementation >>The project implemented a range of strategic activities to achieve its goals.Research and analysis were conducted to identify challenges faced by novice teachers and assess the potential of mentoring interventions. A comprehensive induction programme was designed and developed, incorporating theoretical and practical tools to support teachers' adaptation.A training course was delivered to 15 experienced teachers, equipping them with mentoring and coaching skills to support their colleagues. Alongside this, a handbook and self-learning guide were created, offering practical tools and activities for both mentors and novice teachers.The mentoring programme was piloted with 52 novice teachers, with follow-up supervision to evaluate mentor-coach effectiveness. Certified mentors were trained as mentor-coaches and trainers to ensure the programme's sustainability. Finally, promotion events were organized in partner countries to engage stakeholders and disseminate the project’s results to the wider educational community.<< Results >>The ""YouWell"" project delivered substantial results that addressed the challenges of novice teacher retention and adaptation.Teacher retention was improved by providing systematic support to novice teachers, significantly reducing early dropout rates. A complete induction programme was developed, along with a handbook and self-learning guide, serving as practical resources for mentors and mentees.Fifteen experienced teachers were trained and certified as mentor-coaches, equipping them to effectively support and guide novice teachers. The mentoring programme was successfully piloted with 52 novice teachers, demonstrating the approach’s effectiveness.The project also raised institutional awareness about the benefits of mentoring, with several schools and educational organizations adopting the programme’s recommendations. Sustainability was ensured through the certification of mentor-coaches, enabling them to train future mentors. Finally, stakeholders were engaged through promotion events, which raised awareness and facilitated the broader adoption of the programme across Europe."