Testimonials
Kudos and Raves for Therese’s Work
Testimonials for Therese Hoyle’s Lunchtime Supervisor Superhero Training
A few months ago, whilst researching ideas on creating a more positive playground for our school I came across the wonderful Therese Hoyle and her work. I immediately subscribed to her website for the free resources, and I was instantly inspired. Before you know I had also read 2 of her very helpful and informative books.
I was then overjoyed to find out that my employer had enrolled me on the course “How to be a Lunchtime Superhero” delivered by the wonderful Therese Herself.
Prior to the virtual work shop I had already tried to implement several of the fantastic tips and tricks I had learned from reading Therese’s work and being a subscriber to her website, Theses ideas had already began to make a difference during our school lunchtimes and thing were improving but I felt the course would help cement things even further and that it did.
The workshop was amazing from start to finish. The communication prior was great and all resources were emailed over well in advance. The training itself was really inspiring and fun. (We did the Hokie Kokie virtually- who knew this was even possible.) Therese really was a fountain of knowledge on creating a more positive approach and explaining how lunchtime has the potential to impact afternoon learning for the better.
After the training was over the aftercare was equally as informative as I was sent so much information and further resources to work with and each one was very informative and useful.
Now all that remains to be done is to make sure we implement the ideas fully and watch the children grow in a happy, healthy, and positive environment.
Thank you, Therese, you really are a true inspiration.
“Our recent online training provided by Therese has reinvigorated myself and our team at school. As a small school on the East Coast, we often struggle to have face-to-face training as the cost with travel is too high, the online flexibility of this training made this an cost effective option for us. It allowed staff to engage with via the online platform and also allowed staff who had to work during the time access afterwards. We now have heaps of ideas to refresh our play times and ensure all children are encouraged to play with one another in a purposeful and meaningful way. In addition to the online training, the resources provided will support our school in implementing the ideas further. Working with Therese has been great, and I look forward to working with her again in the future. Thank you for your time and fabulous ideas.”
Since our Lunchtime Supervisor Superhero training, we have noticed all our children are much more engaged, happy and confident.
There is a range of well-chosen activities and it’s so pleasing to see the children energised and active. Staff now regularly plan ways to keep activities innovative and exciting by introducing a Craze of the Week.
The children’s behaviour at lunchtimes has significantly improved and they are confident to speak to the MDSAs or Playground Ambassador team and get support when needed.
Since a change to a more restorative approach to behaviour it has been noticeable how staff now speak in a calm empathetic manner and issues get resolved very quickly.”
“Thérèse delivered a high-quality and useful workshop on being a ‘Lunchtime Superhero’ that was tailor-made for my school and staff. The workshop provided particular emphasis on break/lunch times being a more harmonious part of the school day; more ownership to the Midday Meals Supervisors for the important role they play in school life, and how – via the use of games and activities – we can build strong relationships with all our children.”
“Hi Therese, I wanted to let you know that I have just retired after being a Nursery nurse/ Learning Mentor for almost 30 years of working in primary schools. I also for many years have been a MSA supervisor, with a great team making playtime & lunchtime fun & safe.
I want to thank you for your advice, ideas over the last 8 years which have helped to make that possible.
I have always enjoyed reading your emails/newsletters and have attended your Lunchtime Supervisor Superhero course, which was inspiring, full of practical ideas & fun.”
Testimonials for Therese’s Positive Playtime Training
With kind permission from Leanne Fullbrook From Ewell Castle Primary School
This is the best lunchtime supervisor training I have ever done. It was active, engaging and has given me so many ideas I can use in the playground. Usually training days are boring, but this was the best; I can’t wait to get started!
The children are more settled and are busy and more cooperative. The playground is a positive place with Playground PALS, Games, Craze of the Week, Positive Play and a Friendship Stop. We have a happier, more settled playground and as a result, happier more settled children, with a significant decrease in detentions from poor behaviour at playtimes. We highly recommend the Positive Playtime Masterclass Programme.
Therese Hoyle delivered high quality, structured sessions tailor-made to the needs of our school.
She worked with teachers, support staff, midday supervisors and pupils to create a shared emphasis on positive playtime experiences for all children.
The training has energised staff who are now more actively engaged in developing creative and harmonious playtimes and utilising equipment and skills.
The children responded very positively and with the introduction of our playtime council to foster and lead inclusive, active games, are working hard at playing well.
The biggest impact of our training with Therese Hoyle has been the sense of pride and purpose, feeling of being valued and ownership our MSA’s have taken with what goes on at lunchtimes.
They are now more motivated, engaged in playing games with the children, have set up zoned activity areas and Playtime PALS.
As a result the children are being more tolerant, friendly and kind to one another which has led to a marked reduction in incidents of poor behaviour at lunchtimes and fewer first aid incidents.
Before the Positive Playtime Programme our playtimes and lunchtimes were in fact quite boring for our children as they didn’t have a lot to play with or know how to play outside nicely. With the help of Thérèse and the Positive Playground Programme we have been able to implement lots of different playground games that the children really enjoy and we now have a plethora of equipment and activities for the children to do. We divided our playground into different zones so that each child will be able to find something they like to do. Whether that is playing in the quiet area or having a go at the craze of the week. By changing our playground and the way it runs, it has created far happier more positive playtimes and our children are more motivated to play with each other and enjoy their time in the playground.
Before we started working with Therese Hoyle and the Positive Playtime Programme our playtimes and lunchtimes were problematic. The two years of COVID had change the dynamics of peer relationships and children were finding it difficult to work as a community. More unstructured moments during the day (playtime & lunchtime) needed heavily staffing, with even the most innocuous of games needing scaffolding. Behaviour monitoring showed a sharp rise in arguments and fights.
With the support of Therese and The Positive Playtime Programme we coached and mentored staff from lunchtime supervisors to TA’s and teachers. The Positive Playtime CPD brought a positivity back amongst staff that had been eroded.
The focus on fun activities, community, relationships, positive behaviour strategies and zoning our playground, etc. have meant that behaviour monitoring has registered a stark drop in misdemeanours. Pupil voice, with weekly Circle Times has also evidenced much happier children. All of this has meant teachers are able to teach after playtime and lunchtime instead of resolving issues.
The Positive Playtime Programme has been a hugely helpful experience and one that I would recommend whole heartedly.
We found Therese’s day at school inspirational and motivating.
Her style of working meant that everyone felt included and was able to actively participate, and leave feeling better informed, more confident, and ready for action!
It was a great team-building day for all staff and helped everyone to work together with a greater understanding of our children’s’ daily needs.
We have initiated many of Therese’s Ideas already and children are reaping the benefits of more structured, cohesive play and lunch times.
I’m sure we’ll be in touch for further training! Regards
Very knowledgeable ‒ full of good ideas. Inspirational and wonderfully positive.
‘My experience of the Positive Playtime Programme and working with Therese has been transformational. Therese’s intuitive approach to positive play focuses on providing, support and skill development for children who are still learning how to behave and interact socially with others. All children make mistakes and poor choices, and using her positive playtime strategies supports them as they develop an understanding of positive and negative behaviours.’
Testimonials for Therese’s Coaching Circles
Therese you are truly inspirational. I was stunned by your skill and so was every single person who attended. I know that finally I can develop a school that has emotionally literate children and staff who will have the skills, vocabulary and opportunity to indeed Keep Happy.
It was the best PD we have ever done -with full buy in from all staff.
I cannot thank you enough.
Therese was contracted to implement in nine South Dunedin schools the “Flourishing Schools Programme” ( Formally known as the “Turn a Round Circle Time Programme.”) This required her to work with and guide over 120 teachers and support staff in nine schools. She used a range of professional development presentations to support each school to embrace and fully implement the programme.Some five years on, the work Therese did has had a huge impact on and influenced thousand of students in the wider Dunedin and Otago areas. Therese is an outstanding presenter and facilitator. Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert
This is the best PD I have ever done. The day exceeded all expectations; everything was so relevant and down to earth. I feel inspired and uplifted and can’t wait to put all the ideas into practice in my classroom.
Great style, thank you for catering for our specific needs and goals.
Super effective instructions, with great role modelling. It was fabulous! The Circle Time demonstration was positive and friendly, demonstrating clearly the stages and strategies utilised in circle time. I appreciated all the new games I learnt and also watching how empowered the children were.
Fantastic facilitator, very enthusiastic and full of life. Great strategies that will work well in my classroom and will really help me as a beginning teacher.
Therese’s Circle Time Project in Masterton schools and it’s successes were featured in New Zealand’s Education Gazette in June 2006 and as Frazer Mailman from Masterton Intermediate said:
Circle Time is spreading like a bush fire!
We found Therese’s day at school inspirational and motivating.
Her style of working meant that everyone felt included and was able to actively participate, and leave feeling better informed, more confident, and ready for action!
It was a great team-building day for all staff and helped everyone to work together with a greater understanding of our children’s’ daily needs.
We have initiated many of Therese’s Ideas already and children are reaping the benefits of more structured, cohesive play and lunch times.
I’m sure we’ll be in touch for further training! Regards
This was a great session and really re-ignited our staff’s enthusiasm for Circle Time. Therese was very proactive in adapting her training to meet the needs of our staff who deliver Circle Time to adolescents with ASD. Everyone engaged with her fun and open approach.
Therese was so positive and knowledgeable, so easy to listen to, calm and exciting at the same time. Loved the games and brain gym.
Therese modelled a Circle Time to us. She made the children feel comfortable and confident, was relaxed, encouraging and a very skilful questioner, great session. I can’t wait to implement it. Thank you for all the good ideas and the encouragement to start.
Awesome day, thank you so much. You met all our learning styles, were receptive to the audience, enjoyed our group and became part of it.
Therese was extremely open. We were able to feel relaxed with her approach. She made the children feel valued and confident. Fabulous.
Testimonials for Therese’s Coaching
Therese it was a pleasure to be coached by you, through the Women Leading in Education initiative. Your support came at an important stage of my career, whilst I was deciding which way to take my career and writing my first book. Working with you has made me re-focus what I spend my time on and to value the skills and experience that I have.
Allowing myself to be vulnerable and discuss some of my deepest concerns and worries, was an important part of the process and I felt safe doing so. Almost a year on, I am continuing to use some of the strategies we used in our coaching sessions. It has been some of the most valuable professional development that I have done.
I was working 12 hours a day. I never saw my friends or family, my bills weren’t getting paid and my health was starting to suffer.
Coaching with Therese confirmed something had to change. It was great to talk to someone objective once a week and she helped me identify what I needed to do for a happier and more fulfilled life. Coaching is a process of self-discovery.
It’s like being given a map so you can work out where you are going.
I’d recommend Therese Hoyle for anyone who wants to review their effectiveness as a leader and to refresh their skills.
I found Therese to be affirming, reassuring yet challenging. With her coaching I have become more accepting of myself and recognise that some of my perceived weaknesses are in fact strengths.
This has been very powerful and I now have strategies in place to help me change some negative self-beliefs.
With her support I have developed a deeper understanding of myself and my needs and in doing so I have strengthened both my leadership and life skills.
You are the first person to truly champion me personally – Thank you!
Thank you for such a wonderful training day. Everyone seems on a permanent high since they attended; compared with the lethargy and negativity they presented with prior to attending. We’ll be calling you back in for another energy injection in the spring. Thank you, so much.
I’d recommend Therese for anyone who wants to review their effectiveness as a leader and to refresh their skills. I found Therese to be affirming, reassuring yet challenging. With her coaching I have become more accepting of myself and recognise that some of my perceived weaknesses are in fact strengths.
This has been very powerful and I now have strategies in place to help me change some negative self-beliefs. With her support I have developed a deeper understanding of myself and my needs and in doing so I have strengthened both my leadership and life skills.
Thank you for another powerful coaching session. You and your 6 month leadership coaching programme have been and continue to be life changing for me. I can’t thank you enough Therese.
I’d recommend Therese Hoyle for anyone who wants to find their way forward in their work role. I realised I was unhappy and had not enjoyed my job for two years. This was not normal for me, I had a history of many years of successful, fulfilling, rewarding job roles. Therese first helped me see the bigger picture and understand the structures I was coping with, then understand myself and what I am good at and enjoy doing, finally working on my confidence to speak to people and make changes. I found it really easy to talk to Therese and the process gave me the opportunity to reflect. Therese encouraged me to set specific goals that were sometimes uncomfortable. It was an interesting journey and I am now doing my dream job, I’m now fulfilled and excited at work, the job involves a lot of creativity and networking which suits me really well.
Thank you Therese, I have come so far in the last year, you’ve given me the courage to believe in myself and my dreams and to reach for the stars. I am now working in a company and doing a job I had dreamt of, I also have doubled my income! Coaching has been the best investment I have ever made in myself.
I started coaching with Therese at a time when I had very little direction or motivation, despite having a great job, income, friends and lifestyle. Her supportive yet challenging questions and reflections allowed me to identify the things that drive me and that need to be present in my life in order for me to feel satisfied. With her direction and encouragement, I have been able to prioritise these things and achieve a personal and professional balance which allows me to live an authentic life, true to who I am but open to change and growth.
Perhaps the biggest achievement has been my recent marriage! Therese worked with me on identifying my standards in relationships and developing the confidence to believe I have the right to expect those standards. Just 12 months on from the start of our coaching relationship, I have married the man who meets all of those standards and provides me with the relationship I have always aspired to. It’s only through the journey with Therese that I have come to know myself enough to commit to a life partner. Therese’s personal mentoring and professional supervision have been pivotal in establishing the opportunities that I now have before me…the possibility of a life less ordinary and really extraordinary!
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