Helen Clare
@helenaclare.bsky.social
I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing their jobs in the way we know they can.
It's Advent Tomorrow.
Over the next 24 days I'm going to be opening an advent calendar door each day, and explaining just what that little bit of chocolate has to do with perimenopause and menopause, and specifically menopause in schools.
It'll be fun. And useful!
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Over the next 24 days I'm going to be opening an advent calendar door each day, and explaining just what that little bit of chocolate has to do with perimenopause and menopause, and specifically menopause in schools.
It'll be fun. And useful!
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
November 30, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Is Menopause a CPD priority? When you've got pedagogy? Behaviour? Safeguarding? Systems?
The thing is, supporting colleagues through perimenopause and menopause will help them deal with all those things better and more easily.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
The thing is, supporting colleagues through perimenopause and menopause will help them deal with all those things better and more easily.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
Why Menopause Deserves a Slot in your CPD
Surely everyone is talking about menopause so you don’t have to?
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Is Menopause a CPD priority? When you've got pedagogy? Behaviour? Safeguarding? Systems?
The thing is, supporting colleagues through perimenopause and menopause will help them deal with all those things better and more easily.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
The thing is, supporting colleagues through perimenopause and menopause will help them deal with all those things better and more easily.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
1/3 Meet my new branding, thanks to G Sabini-Roberts
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
November 28, 2025 at 8:14 AM
1/3 Meet my new branding, thanks to G Sabini-Roberts
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
1/2 Don't get me wrong. Face to face work is lovely - and I enjoy being in a real room with all the trust and support and laughter - but that can all happen in a virtual room too.
I'm in Manchester - I do travel. When the trains work it's a great day out.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
I'm in Manchester - I do travel. When the trains work it's a great day out.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 27, 2025 at 7:51 AM
1/3 I had terrible skin problems when I was in peri-menopause - rosacea, dermatographia, contact dermatitis. I spent months trying different face creams - they'd be ok for a week and then wham! I'd be red, blotchy and sore again.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
1/3 I had terrible skin problems when I was in peri-menopause - rosacea, dermatographia, contact dermatitis. I spent months trying different face creams - they'd be ok for a week and then wham! I'd be red, blotchy and sore again.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
1/2 I've had my water kefir granules longer than my boyfriend!
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
1/2 I've had my water kefir granules longer than my boyfriend!
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
1/2 Is it time we had a quick chat about supporting ourselves and our colleagues through perimenopause and menopause?
Here's your link! tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
Schools can be a really tough place to go through menopause.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Here's your link! tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
Schools can be a really tough place to go through menopause.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Helen Clare - Quick chat (15 minutes) | TidyCal
Quick chat (15 minutes)
tidycal.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
1/2 Is it time we had a quick chat about supporting ourselves and our colleagues through perimenopause and menopause?
Here's your link! tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
Schools can be a really tough place to go through menopause.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Here's your link! tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
Schools can be a really tough place to go through menopause.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
1/2 I know. It's a terrible joke. But there's a serious side to this.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
November 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
1/2 I know. It's a terrible joke. But there's a serious side to this.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
Waking up in the middle of the night is upsetting, but it need not be a problem if we can get back to sleep again quickly.
Here's a four step method to help you do just that.
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
Here's a four step method to help you do just that.
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
For Those Who Wake Up In The Night
Try this!
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Waking up in the middle of the night is upsetting, but it need not be a problem if we can get back to sleep again quickly.
Here's a four step method to help you do just that.
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
Here's a four step method to help you do just that.
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
My (chimney) breast job took 6 months in the end - but look at the difference!
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
My (chimney) breast job took 6 months in the end - but look at the difference!
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
Isn't that nice! Fortunately I just love talking to school staff about perimenopause and menopause, how to weather them in a challenging working environment - and how to support their colleagues.
Would this be helpful in your school?
It costs £140.
Drop me a line.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
Would this be helpful in your school?
It costs £140.
Drop me a line.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I thought a picture of Lysander being a lovely idiot might brighten up your Monday morning - he has certainly brightened up mine.
Have a great week!
Have a great week!
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 AM
I thought a picture of Lysander being a lovely idiot might brighten up your Monday morning - he has certainly brightened up mine.
Have a great week!
Have a great week!
Sometimes it's tempting to avoid conversations about perimenopause. Sometimes those of us experiencing it find it hard to talk about it. Sometimes other people feel it's not their concern.
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
10 Reasons Everyone Needs to Know About Menopause
Regardless of Age, Sex or Gender
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Sometimes it's tempting to avoid conversations about perimenopause. Sometimes those of us experiencing it find it hard to talk about it. Sometimes other people feel it's not their concern.
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
1/2 We all need a little help sometimes - especially when perimenopause or menopause struggles land on top of an already challenging job!
I work with schools to build awareness and understanding;
to help those staff figure out a job way forward;
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
I work with schools to build awareness and understanding;
to help those staff figure out a job way forward;
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
1/2 In case you haven't 'met me' yet. I'm Helen and I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love in the way we know they can.
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 AM
1/2 In case you haven't 'met me' yet. I'm Helen and I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love in the way we know they can.
1/4 Yes, you need a menopause policy.
📝 You need it because you have a legal obligation to support employees through perimenopause and menopause.
📝 You need it because it enables you to consider what that support might look like - and put reasonable boundaries on it.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
📝 You need it because you have a legal obligation to support employees through perimenopause and menopause.
📝 You need it because it enables you to consider what that support might look like - and put reasonable boundaries on it.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 AM
1/2 "Go blet yourself!"
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
November 9, 2025 at 12:34 PM
1/2 "Go blet yourself!"
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
1/2 I have to be honest I have memories of being in staffrooms (when all schools had staffrooms) where someone sat in the corner moaning about everything and sucking all the air out of the room.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
Non-toxic negativity
When is being negative not toxic?
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:30 AM
1/2 I have to be honest I have memories of being in staffrooms (when all schools had staffrooms) where someone sat in the corner moaning about everything and sucking all the air out of the room.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
It's all about the conversations! Supporting school colleagues through perimenopause and menopause hinges on them being able to have supportive conversations - whether that's about a moment of empathy or digging into the realities of offering adjustments.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 7, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Does perimenopause ever make you feel like this? As if there's no way out? Or maybe there's a way out, but you just can't see it?
You might not be able to walk away from perimenopause - but you can find ways to deal with it so you can get on with life and feel good!
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
You might not be able to walk away from perimenopause - but you can find ways to deal with it so you can get on with life and feel good!
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 6, 2025 at 6:18 AM