Supporting Reflection Without Offering False Reassurance

One of the most challenging aspects of concluding a terminated placement is balancing empathy with professional honesty.

Mentors naturally wish to protect trainees from distress.

However, reassurance that minimises significant concerns may prevent meaningful professional learning.

For example:

"Don't worry—I'm sure everything will be fine."

Whilst well-intentioned, this statement may create unrealistic expectations.

Instead, mentors should encourage constructive reflection.

Questions such as:

• Looking back over the placement, what do you feel you have learned about yourself as a developing teacher?
• Which aspects of teaching do you feel became stronger during the placement?
• What feedback do you think will be most important for your future development?
• What support do you think would help you most moving forward?

These questions acknowledge that, whilst the placement has ended, professional learning has not.

Reflection should therefore remain forward-looking.

What Should Mentors Avoid?

In emotionally charged and difficult conversations, experienced mentors sometimes unintentionally adopt approaches that reduce clarity or create confusion.

Avoid:

• making promises about future outcomes;
• speculating about Lincoln Bishop University's decisions;
• comparing the trainee with previous trainees;
• softening professional judgements to avoid discomfort;
• expressing personal opinions that are unsupported by evidence;
• assigning blame to colleagues or Lincoln Bishop University.

Instead, conversations should remain grounded in:

• evidence collected throughout the placement;
• professional standards;
• agreed processes;
• future support available through Lincoln Bishop University.

Remember- when a placement is terminated, the Programme Leader for the respective course will take the case to Placement Panel. They will utilise all available evidence to make a decision as to the next course of action. Some of those might include:

• The trainee deferring the placement until later in the course
• An extension to a placement
• Removal of QTS if appropriate
• Additional UBM intervention and support
• Termination of studies

Whilst this is not an extensive list, it should highlight to you and to trainees the seriousness of terminating a placement. It is also why it is important to avoid those scenarios listed above.