Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 15th November 2024
Friday 15th November 2024
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
Part 1 - Training & Events
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
We hope this finds you well and gearing for the festivities ahead – whether it be Children in Need or the Christmas preparation. So many memories of Christmases in school including an abiding memory of the deputy in my first school having to be escorted from the piano in the carol concert as they had some ‘refreshment’ over lunchtime and couldn’t seem to remember anything beyond repeating the first few bars of Little Donkey…
Anti Bullying Week has been prominent this week across school social media. It has been great to so many schools taking part in activities including Odd Sock Day (although we couldn’t persuade the cats at ‘Headstart Towers’ to join in).
It is good to see that the organisers have embraced the message that the themes of respect / kindness / helping YP to stay safe are important all year round.
Upcoming Training
Find details of all our training including on-demand interactive modules
Highlights:
- Digital Resilience Conference - 21st November
- Karen Treisman Webinars - On-demand access
- FREE wellbeing content for all staff / parents with Pooky Knightsmith’s Creative Education Platform
Details below...
Digital Resilience Conference (FREE)
9.30-3.30, 21st November 2024,
Venton Centre, Chapel Parc, Newquay TR8 5AH
The Digital Resilience Conference will be an opportunity for professionals to explore issues related to children and young people’s engagement in the digital world, with a focus on solutions and practical support. We have speakers with a wealth of experience supporting young people around their digital lives, as well as extensive academic and practical knowledge of the issues related to the digital world. Topics will include responding to sexual image sharing, recognising and responding to issues with gaming and gambling, supporting young people with SEND around digital issues, and digital sex and relationships education. This event will be suitable for anyone who supports children and / or young people and has concerns around or an interest in the digital world.
Last chance to book
Karen Treisman webinars and resources
A limited number of licences for Karen Treisman webinars and resources designed as CPD modules for small groups of 3-20 people are available for free to Cornwall schools and settings.
Click here to find out more and sign up for the webinars
Including these super characters…
Our Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP)
Sexting Safeguarding Training
A two hour session supporting you to deal with safeguarding issues related to youth sexual image sharing, sometimes referred to as ‘sexting’. The session will cover:
- The law governing youth sexual image sharing, including official police responses to consensual image sharing between minors.
- The problems associated with using scare tactics, including preventing disclosure and spreading inaccurate information.
- The best way to respond to aggravated sexting incidents using the harm reduction approach.
This training is delivered as part of the Headstart Digital Resilience offer.
Dates available September 2024 - June 2025. Book your place here
Brook - Safeguarding Webinar:
Developing Your Professional Curiosity
Monday 18th November 11am-12:30pm
Join Brook safeguarding experts and frontline and strategic professionals to explore what harnessing your professional curiosity looks like.
We’ll be joined by:
- Chris Wilkins, Practice Mentor Lead at Slough Children's First
- Darren Tippets, Safeguarding Lead for Integrated Sexual Health for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Joanne Fearns, Multi Agency Child Exploitation Deputy Team Manager at Engage
- Simone Last, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Brook
And chaired by Brook's Director of Innovation and Education, Dougie Boyd
Can’t make it?
Brook will be recording the webinar and sharing it on YouTube following the event. Sign up via Eventbrite to hear when the recording is available.
Have you joined the Headstart Kernow Creative Education membership yet?
Offering full and free access to a huge range of online, on-demand content for all school staff, governors and a dedicated membership for parents and carers.
Plus access to Live Networks for safeguarding and MH and wellbeing (with more to come)
We’ve pulled together some example pathways and themed content for you to explore.
Check out our suggestions for:
Staff
Staff wellbeing, Anxiety, Whole School Approaches
Parents and carers
Helping children learn coping skills and strategies, anxiety, exams
www.headstartkernow.org.uk/creative-education/
Creative Education Content Exploration
Sign up for parents Sign up for staff
Here are some examples of existing content and new additions to give a flavour of what’s available when you take advantage of our FREE access:
Mental Health in Schools Network
The next Mental Health Network Session is:
December 12, 2024 4:00 pm (45 mins)
Gradual exposure for overcoming anxiety.
Creative Education’s Mental Health Network sessions take place throughout the year, addressing a range of topics.
You will have the opportunity to engage in discussions regarding the theme and to share resources with both colleagues and our experts.
If you take up our free membership you can access the full archive of past recordings and so much more…
Find out more about the Live Networks
Parents and Carers
This week, we're sharing some resources supporting children and young people who may experience friendship issues or bullying in light of Anti-Bullying Week.
What To Do When Your Child is Being Bullied
During this practical short course, Pooky will walk you through a range of simple ideas to help you to support your child if they're being bullied (25 mins)
Supporting Children with Friendship Issues
A range of simple ideas to help you to support your child with their friendships (25mins)
Other Training coming up
Education Support
Building better parent-teacher relationships
Join us on for an insightful webinar where we will explore how to build and nurture healthy teacher-parent relationships.
Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with parents and teachers is central to ensuring a child’s success.
However teachers and education staff recently told us they’ve seen a change in behaviour from parents and guardians.
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Part 2 - News / Resources / Updates
School Mental Health Leads
Time is running out! If you’ve not claimed the DfE grant (or need to get a second grant to train another member of staff to replace a SMHL who’s left) you must apply for a grant by 31st December 2024 and then be signed up to a course starting before / on 31st March 2025.
More information on the DfE website
Healthy Cornwall Healthy Schools Toolkit
A super new toolkit has been launched to help schools across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly boost the health and wellbeing of pupils and their families.
The Healthy Schools Toolkit has been developed by Healthy Cornwall and a range of partner organisations and can be accessed here: Healthy Schools Toolkit - Healthy Cornwall
It is designed to support all education settings, including our special schools and home education community.
The toolkit focuses on six key areas, giving useful ideas, tools, links, activities and lesson plans to support each one.
We are delighted to be supporting the EHWB elements of the Toolkit.
You can find our links / resources here
Social and Emotional Learning
Social and Emotional Learning for Every Child: Why SEL Matters
As concerns surrounding children’s mental health continue to grow, the role schools can play in supporting children’s mental health is receiving more attention. Universal, school-based interventions known as “Social and emotional learning” (SEL) interventions, delivered to all children, are a cost-effective and non-stigmatising approach to supporting wellbeing and healthy child development. These interventions aim to prevent the onset of poor mental health and reduce unwanted behaviours, such as bullying.
Read more on the blog (excellent read)
One small step? Links between educational transitions and young people's wellbeing
Another recent publication from the Children’s Society caught our eye. ‘One Small Step?’ looks at subjective wellbeing among children and young people in England and Wales during school years associated with educational transitions (comparing years 6 and 7, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12).
For some of the measures considered, young people in year 7 have lower subjective wellbeing on average than their counterparts in year 6. This raises concerns about the potential effect of the transition from primary to secondary education on young people's wellbeing.
Read more and download the full report
Online Grooming
The NSPCC has published a news story on online grooming crimes against children in the UK. Figures provided by 45 UK police forces show that 7,062 sexual communication with a child offences were recorded in 2023/24, an increase of 89% since 2017/18. The data also reveals that where a means of communication was known, 48% of offences were on Snapchat; and 81% of grooming cases took place against girls. The NSPCC is calling for Ofcom to strengthen rules for tech platforms to ensure they are proactive and that social media apps do not contribute to abuse; and for the UK Government to strengthen legislation to ensure child sexual abuse is disrupted in private messages such as on Snapchat and WhatsApp
Online grooming crimes against children increase by 89% in six years
Helping C&YP stay safe and thrive on-line by supporting their digital resilience is even more important than ever – check out our Digital Resilience Conference
Report Remove - Childline
Childline has built a new tool designed to aid subjects of online harassment, such sharing of images. gain back control of their images and their internet life.
Please click on the link below:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/report-remove
Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health – New Videos released
Four talks on Anxiety
Dr. Amina Al-Yassin offers Top Tips in these talks on Anxiety disorders in children…
- Top tips for Parents (8 mins)
- Top tips for Teachers and Educators (8 mins)
- Top tips for Social & Youth Workers (9 mins)
- Top Tips as a friend (8 mins)
The Wholehearted School Counselling Hub
One of our favourite sites for engaging and effective tools to support social and emotional wellbeing in schools is Wholehearted School Counselling.
If you sign up to the newsletter you can access a superb range of free resources / brilliant blog posts and even more fab resources to buy at low cost.
Everyday this week, Anita, is sharing 5 super resources – which are well worth signing up for alone. Well worth a look.
HPV Educate Resource (secondary schools) – please feedback
The Cornwall Council Public Health team are looking at current use of the HPV Educate resource and how usage could be improved. The HPV Educate resource is a lesson plan and associated resources for teachers, developed by the University of Bristol and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It is aimed to be delivered prior to the Year 8 HPV vaccinations to give the students an understanding about what the vaccine does and what it is like to have it.
We would like to know:
- Whether your school is currently using the HPV Educate Resource?
- Was the HPV Educate Resource used at your school in the past? If it is no longer used, why is that?
- If the HPV Educate Resource is not being used in your school, what are the reasons for this? Are there any specific barriers that are preventing it being used?
- What could be done to increase use of the resource – either by the school, the Public Health team or another organisation?
- Do you have any suggestions or ideas to improve HPV vaccine uptake in addition to the HPV Educate resource?
Please send responses to hope.hughes@cornwall.gov.uk
News from our colleagues in Health Protection / Public Health
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South West is reminding parents of the simple steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and winter illnesses:
Blog: A parent’s guide to keeping kids healthy this school year
Empathy Lab – November is Empathy Action Month
What is Empathy Action Month?
Social action is an important part of empathy. When we take time to understand other people’s feelings and experiences, it spurs us on to act.
In other words, we put empathy into action. That means everyone coming together to improve each other’s lives and solve problems that are facing their communities. This could be as small as actively listening to one another or as big as a whole-school litter pick.
Every November, we help young people focus on ways to make a difference.
We want to encourage everyone to make every day an Empathy Day, and to keep taking steps to build a better, more empathetic world.
Wellbeing Book Club Review
Mud Boy by Sarah Siggs
In honour of Antibullying Week this week’s recommendation is the powerful and moving Mud Boy. The sound of Sam's life was like the best piece of music you have ever heard. Everyone liked Sam, and Sam liked himself. But then one day the mud words begin and they get inside his head - and Sam can't hear the music anymore.
A powerful story around the issue of bullying and feelings of helplessness and victimisation. Aimed at 5-11 year olds, it relates how a boy called Sam comes to experience ‘mud words’ being thrown at him by other children and how this begins to affect him physically and emotionally.
The notes provided by Pooky Knightsmith provide a useful guide to using the book effectively, suggesting questions to prompt thinking and activities to explore parts of the book more deeply. This would be very useful in exploring sensitive issues around bullying, being bullied and feeling worried. This is one of the best books on bullying. Highly recommended
Want to find out more about our passion for books and wellbeing? Looking for specific books for staff / parents and carers / children? Visit our wellbeing book club.
Children’s online experiences
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a new report on children’s online experiences. The report draws on the responses of children and adults to the Commissioner’s The Big Ambition consultation. Findings highlight children’s vulnerability to online harms and outline children’s concerns, exploring: child sexual abuse material; exposure to highly sexualised content; abusive content and bullying; and suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content online. The report also presents children’s views on the role of tech companies, government, parents and schools in keeping them safe online. The Commissioner makes recommendations on legislation and guidance, as well as system reform.
Read the report: “I’ve seen horrible things”: children’s experiences of the online world
Cyber Security Check up for Schools (DfE/SWGfL)
Cyber security is a frequent topic here on the briefing. The reason for that is because of its essentiality to the security of the modern educational establishment. What we could call the 'E-estate' of the 21st century school, is every bit as important as the integrity of the ground estate. All files pertaining to pupil records, safeguarding records, government information and all other aspects are now digitised. Taken together this makes a cyber break in as dangerous as a traditional break in.
CyberSecure is a free to use self-assessment tool for schools aimed at erecting an improved barrier between the e-state, and those who wish to infiltrate it. This tool is structured to provide understandable feedback as to the state of online security protocols. If interested in acquiring this tool, please follow the link below:
https://cybersecurecheckforschools.uk/
New From Schools in Mind (Anna Freud Centre)
The Schools and Colleges Early Support Service is an early intervention service, that ensures students aged 11-25 get the right mental health support at the right time.
The service embeds a whole-setting approach to mental health – supporting students and the adults around them to build long-term wellbeing.
The service, for secondary schools, does cost but has been subsidized by the Anna Freud Centre. If offers:
The service provides:
- timely one-to-one sessions for students experiencing mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety
- online consultations and webinars for staff, parents and carers
- support from specialist practitioners with clinical expertise
- evidence-based approaches informed by the latest research.
Find out more and register interest
New approach to measuring pupil wellbeing:
free survey resources and guidance
CORC has launched a suite of free Wellbeing Measurement for Schools (WMfS) resources.
These have been developed to support schools to design their own questionnaires and surveys to understand more about the wellbeing of the pupils in their schools.
The resource includes tried and tested sets of questions covering five broad areas of wellbeing, each with various questionnaires to choose from, and a comprehensive step-by-step guide and additional resources. The five areas are:
- Emotional health
- Emotional strengths and skills
- Relationships
- School life
- Help and support
Please visit the Measuring pupil wellbeing pages to download these new modular surveys and our step-by-step guides.
- Measuring staff wellbeing
- Support for schools
- Measuring wellbeing in colleges
- Measuring wellbeing in the early years
The resources will help schools to better understand their pupil’s wellbeing. CORC’s approach gives schools the flexibility to focus on what is important to them with the rigour that comes from using validated questionnaires.
Visit For Schools (corc.uk.net)
We love this. It provides schools and settings with accessible and reliable tools to use for free. A brilliant resource for schools.
Website update
Have you visited our new www.headstartkernow.org.uk website yet?
We are delighted to let you know that our refreshed and redesigned website went live recently. We made it simpler to find what you need as professionals supporting children and families need as well adding a new, more prominent area for parents and carers.