Some schools need more than a visit.
A consultation visit is a turning point. A retainer is what comes next. When a school is in the middle of genuine change, having consistent access to the same person who understands your context, your team, and your CARE journey means the work does not lose momentum between visits. A retainer is a sustained partnership, not a subscription to advice.
The schools I work with on retainer are not looking for someone to tell them what to do. They are looking for a thought partner who knows their school well enough to ask the right question at the right moment. That is what a retainer makes possible.
How a retainer is different from a single engagement
A single visit or coaching series is designed to create a spark. A retainer is designed to keep the fire burning. Here is what that difference looks like in practice.
A defined moment in time
- Scoped to a single visit or series of sessions
- Ends with a report or next steps plan
- Implementation is left to the school
- Follow-up is one call within 60 days
- Context has to be rebuilt at each new engagement
- Best for schools at the beginning of the journey
Ongoing presence through change
- Sustained access across a full term or school year
- Implementation support built into every month
- Regular touchpoints keep the momentum alive
- Deep contextual understanding accumulates over time
- Responsive to what is actually happening, not just what was planned
- Best for schools in the middle of genuine systemic change
Not sure if a retainer is right for your school?
Start with a free 30 minute discovery call. We will talk honestly about where your school is and whether sustained partnership or a single engagement makes more sense right now.
Retainers are for schools in motion.
A retainer works best when a school has already begun the CARE journey and needs consistent support to keep the work moving with integrity. It is not for schools still deciding whether to begin. It is for schools that have started and are serious about seeing it through.
- You are just beginning to explore the CARE framework for the first time
- You need a single defined deliverable such as a workshop or alignment report
- Your school is not yet ready to commit to regular structured time together
- You need someone to manage implementation for you rather than alongside you
- You have completed a consultation visit and want to sustain the momentum
- Your school is mid-implementation and needs responsive support rather than a new visit
- You are a curriculum leader navigating complex change and want a consistent thought partner
- Your team needs regular check-ins to stay aligned as the work evolves
- You want access to someone who already knows your school, your team, and your context
- You are planning a multi-year CARE journey and want a partner for the whole arc
Choose your level of partnership
Two retainer structures designed for different levels of need. Both give you consistent access, a known context, and responsive support across the months that matter most.
For schools that want consistent monthly presence. A regular rhythm of sessions, reviews, and responsive support across a full term or year.
Deeper and sustained Quarterly RetainerFor schools ready for intensive quarterly engagement, including on site visits, full document reviews, and leadership coaching as part of a longer-term partnership.
Two structures. One consistent partnership.
Both retainers are built around your school's specific CARE journey. There is no generic program delivered to every client. Every retainer begins with a scoping conversation to agree what sustained support should look like for your school's stage, size, and goals.
For schools wanting consistent monthly support through active CARE implementation
- Two 60 minute remote sessions: structured working sessions on implementation progress, planning challenges, or leadership questions as they arise
- Document review: one planning document, unit, or policy reviewed with written CARE aligned feedback each month
- Responsive email support: questions by email answered within 2 business days throughout the month
- Monthly written summary: a brief written note capturing the key themes, decisions, and next steps from that month's work together
- Priority calendar access: first access to available dates for workshops, visits, or additional sessions before the open calendar is released
- One group staff session per term: a 60 minute virtual session with a broader staff group on an agreed CARE topic each term
Best for schools in active implementation who want a regular, known rhythm of support without committing to quarterly on site visits.
For schools wanting intensive quarterly engagement including on site presence
- One full day on site or 3 session remote equivalent: a structured quarterly visit to observe, debrief, and work directly with your team inside the school context
- Four 60 minute remote sessions: two per month between visits for ongoing implementation support and leadership coaching
- Full document review: up to three planning documents or curriculum materials reviewed with written feedback each quarter
- Written quarterly report: a structured summary of progress, patterns observed, and recommended focus for the coming quarter
- Responsive email support: questions answered within 1 business day throughout the quarter
- Two staff sessions per quarter: virtual sessions with a broader group on agreed CARE topics, scheduled around your calendar
- Priority calendar access: first access to workshop and consultancy dates for the entire year of partnership
- Annual CARE progress review: a structured end of year review mapping your school's growth across all four pillars with recommendations for the year ahead
Best for schools ready for deep, sustained partnership across a full school year, including regular on site presence and comprehensive documentation of growth over time.
What is always included in both retainers
Regardless of which structure you choose, every retainer includes these foundations at no extra cost.
Starting a retainer partnership.
Every retainer begins the same way: a genuine conversation about your school's context, where you are in the CARE journey, and what sustained support actually needs to look like for you. No assumptions, no pre packaged program.
Discovery Call
A free 30 minute conversation to understand your context and whether a retainer makes sense right now. No commitment attached.
Scoping Session
A 90 minute working session to map your school's CARE journey, agree the focus areas, and design the retainer structure around what you actually need.
Agreement and Start
A simple written agreement is signed and the first session is scheduled. The retainer begins with a clear shared understanding of goals and expectations.
Regular Sessions
Monthly or quarterly sessions run on a rhythm that fits your school calendar. A shared working document keeps track of progress and actions between sessions.
Written Summaries
Every session produces a brief written note. Every quarter or term produces a fuller written summary of themes, progress, and recommended focus ahead.
Review and Renew
At the end of each commitment period, we review the partnership honestly. Renew, adjust the structure, or conclude with a clear picture of how far the school has come.
Terms and practicalities
Payment Terms
- Monthly retainer: Invoiced at the start of each month
- Quarterly retainer: Invoiced at the start of each quarter
- Annual commitment: Option to pay annually with saving applied
- Scoping session: Invoiced separately at $275 and credited to your first payment
Commitment and Cancellation
- Minimum term: 3 months for monthly, 1 year for quarterly
- Early exit (monthly): One month's notice required
- Early exit (quarterly): One quarter's notice required
- Pause option: One calendar month pause available per year with 4 weeks notice
Not Included (At Cost)
- Airfare and airport transfers for on site visits
- Hotel accommodation (4 star equivalent requested)
- Ground transportation at destination
- Printing of any participant or school materials
Bespoke Retainers
- Custom retainer structures available for unusual school contexts
- Multi-school or network retainers available on request
- International school groups: contact for a tailored proposal
- All bespoke structures begin with a scoping session
Let's talk about what your school needs.
The right retainer structure becomes clear in one honest conversation. Book a free 30 minute discovery call and we will figure it out together.
Book a Discovery Call