Preventing Burnout in Early-Years Teams
Early years work is emotionally demanding, and burnout is common but rarely discussed openly. This workshop names the specific pressures of the sector and offers realistic, sector-appropriate strategies for individuals and teams to protect their wellbeing, without pretending the answer is simply 'self-care'.
Led by Amy Byrne — BA (Hons) Level 8 in Early Childhood Education and Care, currently studying a Level 9 postgraduate in play therapy, Children First trained and a Mandated Person. One hour, with a take-home booklet and a dated certificate of attendance.
Who this is for
For early years educators, room leaders and managers noticing signs of stress or burnout in themselves or their team.
What we cover in the hour
- The specific pressures that make early years work prone to burnout.
- Recognising early warning signs before they become a crisis.
- Realistic, low-cost wellbeing strategies suited to a busy setting.
- Team-level changes that reduce collective stress, not just individual coping.
- Setting boundaries around emotional labour without feeling guilty.
- When and how to seek further support beyond the workplace.
What you'll leave with
- A burnout early-warning-signs checklist.
- Three realistic wellbeing strategies that fit into a working day.
- A team discussion guide for reducing collective stress.
- Boundary-setting language for emotionally demanding moments.
- A list of further support resources available in Ireland.
Inside the booklet
The booklet includes the early-warning-signs checklist, team discussion guide and further support resources.
This workshop supports the Aistear theme of Wellbeing, extending the principle of wellbeing to the adults who care for children, not only the children themselves.
How it can be delivered
| Format | Price |
|---|---|
| Public ticket — live onlineOne hour, small group, booklet emailed | €20 per person |
| Public ticket — in personOne hour in a venue near you, booklet in hand | €35 per person |
| Private 1:1 with Amy30 minutes €25 · full hour €50 (3 for €135) | from €25 |
| Private group — onlineParent evening or staff session, minimum 5 | €35 per person |
| Private group — in personYour setting or venue, minimum 6 | €45 per person |
No VAT and no booking fees. An itemised receipt is emailed instantly, and invoices are available before you book. Running this across a whole setting? Setting packages start at €399.
Common questions
- Is this workshop just about individual self-care?
- No, while individual strategies are included, the session also looks at team and setting-level changes, because burnout is often driven by structural pressures that individual self-care alone cannot fix.
- Can this be delivered as a full staff wellbeing session?
- Yes, this is often booked as a team session, and the team discussion guide in the booklet is designed to keep the conversation going after the workshop ends.
- Will this address staffing and ratio pressures specifically?
- The session names these pressures honestly as part of the sector context, though changes to staffing and ratios are ultimately a management decision outside the scope of the workshop itself.
- Is this suitable for managers as well as frontline educators?
- Yes, managers gain particular value from the team-level strategies, as they are often best placed to implement structural changes that reduce collective stress.
- What if someone in the session is currently experiencing burnout?
- The workshop is educational and preventative rather than a substitute for professional support; the resource list includes further support options for anyone who needs more than a single session can offer.
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More in this theme: Emotional regulation · All workshop themes · Upcoming dates
Available live online across Ireland, and in person in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork and other counties.
Trusted early years resources
Every workshop is grounded in Irish early years frameworks and national guidance.
- Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA)
- Síolta: the National Quality Framework
- Children First national guidance (Tusla)
- First 5: Ireland's strategy for babies & young children
- Early Childhood Ireland
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