Working to improve the social, emotional, mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Cornwall

Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 24th January 2025

Friday 24th January 2025

Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 24th January 2025

Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter

Part 1 - Training & Events

 

Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter

 

The Right On Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Survey 2025 is now open for schools to register for FREE. More information on our website. This is superb opportunity for you to gain a powerful insight into the wellbeing the C&YP in your school.

There is an interesting TES article this week about ‘measuring’ pupil wellbeing. The Education Policy Institute have suggested that pupil wellbeing be part of any future accountability measures for schools. Not surprisingly this hasn’t gone down well with teaching unions who are concerned that ‘much that influences wellbeing is beyond a school’s control’ and including wellbeing in accountability measures may lead to unintended consequences. 

It seems strange to us that a potentially powerful tool for individual schools to understand more about wellbeing and to demonstrate to pupils that their voice is being heard should become something contested because of the EPI suggestions… 

The Right On survey (and others) is simply intended to provide schools with a rich picture of wellbeing among your pupils and to give a snapshot of YP wellbeing that can help inform services and support for schools as we work together to make ‘Cornwall a Brilliant Place to be a Child…’

Anxiety Resource – sneak preview

One thing that surveys in Cornwall and beyond are reporting C&YP not feeling safe and increasing levels of ‘anxiety’. And schools have been asking for support for both children and parents. As part of our “My Brilliant Place to be ME!” resource development we have been working on a resource for parents and carers (and a separate version for school staff).

If you’d like a preview copy we’d love to hear from you. Kate.pordage@cornwall.gov.uk 

 

About Anxiety resources are available

Don’t forget you can now access this and previous newsletters on the website

 

Wellbeing Training with Headstart Kernow 

Find details of all our training including on-demand interactive modules

Current:

Workforce opportunitiesWorkforce opportunities

 

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/

Training grid

 

Download sign up information for school staff and parents & carers

Creative Education Content Exploration

Sign up for parents     Sign up for staff

UPDATE – Creative are offering a new New Staff Wellbeing Network alongside their existing MH in Schools and Safeguarding Networks

Find out more about the Live Networks

Staff Wellbeing Newsletter 

Creating Education are also launching a brand new free newsletter in 2025 focussing on staff wellbeing. 

Sign up to get access to our latest articles on supporting staff wellbeing in schools, plus free downloadable resources.

 

Upcoming Courses / Network Meetings

 

5 New Creative Education Courses Launching Soon

An Introduction to Supporting in a Mental Health Crisis
This course introduces you to what constitutes as a mental health crisis and the possible early warning signs to look out for.

How to Have Difficult Conversations
Participants will learn to differentiate between pressure and stress while gaining practical time management strategies for quick task turnaround.

An Introduction to Neuroinclusion
This course covers the principles of neuroinclusion, highlighting its benefits for both staff and students. 

Teenagers’ Mental Health in Today's World
This course examines how mental health concerns may present in both classroom and home settings.

Thriving Under Pressure: Strategies for Resilience and Performance
Participants will learn to differentiate between pressure and stress while gaining practical time management strategies for quick task turnaround.

Like the sound of these? You can see what else we are in the process of developing, editing and publishing on Creative Ed’s new Upcoming Courses and Features page.

 

External Training coming up

 

ACAMH (The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health) 

‘Words Matter: Understanding, Impact, and Prevention of Childhood Verbal Abuse’, 

3 separate webinars taking place between 6 March – 20 March. (cost involved) 

Childhood Verbal Abuse (CVA) is characterised by adults shouting, yelling, denigrating, and verbally threatening the child. These types of adult actions can be as damaging to a child’s development as other currently recognized and forensically established subtypes of maltreatment such as childhood physical and sexual abuse.

Delegates will gain insight into the nuanced and prevalent nature of childhood verbal abuse, acknowledging its impact on individuals and communities and will explore the role of caregivers, educators, and communities in preventing and addressing childhood verbal abuse.

 

Anna Freud Schools in Mind: Preventing self- harm in schools

Free webinar 4th February 16.30 – 18.30

Training Responding to a young person who is self-harming (various dates / cost involved) 

Training Self-harm: Leading whole-school and college prevention (various dates / cost involved)

 

Barnardo’s Layered Learning - Mind, Body, and Mental Health

The Layered Learning CPD Packages provide an opportunity to build upon existing knowledge. Each package is made up of three parts: Consolidating Understanding, Reflective Thinking, Resources and Signposting.

These packages are now available to access as a 3-hour half-day session.

We aim to layer professionals’ learning and develop awareness of different issues/themes relevant to work in schools and education settings.

 

Thrive UK Bitesize - 5 Proven Strategies for Educators to Help Pupils Express Their Emotions

4th February 4:30pm - 5:00pm (FREE) 

Emotional expression is essential for the healthy development of children and young people. It supports mental wellbeing, enhances communication skills, strengthens relationships and boosts resilience at any age. When pupils haven't been taught - or don't feel able - to talk about how they are feeling, it can lead to several challenges that impact their emotional, social and academic development.

Register For Free Now (Can’t join live? Sign up anyway and we’ll share the recording).

 

Taming the Anxiety Guard Dog – From Anxiety to Resilience

Feb 5th 7-8.30pm GMT

Nicola Morgan author of a number of excellent books for C&YP including ‘Blame my Brain’) is pairing up with the awesome Authors Aloud to offer an in-depth online event, Taming the Anxiety Guard Dog - From Anxiety to Resilience. This is to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Week. I’m packing the talk with knowledge and insights to give you the deepest depth and broadest breadth. You’ll come away understanding so much!

When: Feb 5th 7-8.30pm GMT
Where: On Zoom. Booking link HERE
Who for: Parents, carers, relatives, teachers, other professionals - anyone living or working with young people from aged around 10 upwards, including young adults.
Cost: £20, to include lots of resources and the Powerpoint. And there’ll be a giveaway with three signed books as prizes. (Each person booking a place will be entered into the draw automatically.)

 

UK Feminista Free online teacher training course for tackling sexism and sexual harassment  

Our online teacher training course equips teachers and trainee teachers with the tools, knowledge and confidence to tackle sexism and sexual harassment. 

The course consists of three modules and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. It includes interactive exercises, case studies, video content and classroom resources.

The course is free to access and can be delivered internally by schools and Initial Teacher Training providers. Participants can complete the course at a time and location of their choosing and everyone who completes the course receives a certificate.  

 

Inclusion Live 2025

Register now for free webinars to provide inclusive opportunities in your school. Inclusion Live Week takes place between Monday 27 January and Friday 31 January 2025. Each day we will host a free online session of virtual CPD for all practitioners working with young people with SEND. The five sessions are:  

  • Monday 27 January 2025: 15:30-16:30, Neurodiversity in PE and school sport - Creating inclusive experiences
  • Tuesday 28 January 2025: 15:30-16:30, The Paralympics legacy - Embedding inclusive values in school sport
  • Wednesday 29 January 2025: 15:30-16:30, Physical activity for progress - Improving attendance and behaviour
  • Thursday 30 January 2025: 15:30-16:30, A practitioner’s guide to inclusive physical activity - Resources and recommendations
  • Friday 31 January 2025: 12:15-13:15, Move like me - Creating inclusive physical activities for young people with SEND.

You can sign up here to each event.


UK Trauma Council Insight Series

Creating Healing Environments: Evidence-Based Principles for Recovery after Trauma

13 February 2025 17:00-18:30 (FREE) 

Join this free insightful webinar to gain practical, evidence-informed principles for supporting children and young people after potentially traumatic events.

 

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Part 2 - News / Resources / Updates

 

School Mental Health Leads(last chance!)

No new applications can be made but a reminder if you have an existing application it need to be completed by 31st January to ensure you receive the payment. 

More information on the DfE website

 

The Right On Survey 2025 – Register Now

The Right On Survey 2025 has been launched and registration is now open to all education settings in Cornwall. The survey supports children’s rights, providing an important opportunity for young people to have their voices heard and influence decision making.

This follows the success of the 2023 survey which was completed by over 8,200 children and young people. The data gathered has provided the Council, education settings and partner organisations with a wealth of information on the views, opinions and experiences of young people. This has been used to shape service delivery and strategy across a broad range of areas. Settings told us they have used the findings to help improve the support offer for pupils, inform school development plans and in PSHE delivery.

Feedback from schools includes:

“This is an excellent survey and allows us to evaluate our provision”.

“Very detailed and relevant …. so useful to know what our children are thinking and feeling”.

“Really useful to target our team around the child team to support various cohorts/year groups”.

The online survey will be live for four weeks in March 2025 and it is again free for all settings to participate. Every participating setting will receive a bespoke report summarising key findings. Find out more and register your interest here. Registration is open until 31 January 2025. Further information is also available on the Services for Schools platform.

The Right On Survey 2025 is being delivered by the Children's Rights Team in partnership with Public Health, who are also funding the project. If you have any questions please email childrensrights@cornwall.gov.uk.

Download this information as a pdf

 

Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week (3-9 February) 

The theme this year is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, which is about encouraging children and young people across the UK to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them.

Lots of FREE resources:

Inside Out 2 schools pack

Other resources currently available include: 

And don’t forget our Brilliant ME! resources including the eotional literacy section: ‘Name it to Tame It’

 

Parental Engagement Framework – New Free ‘Taster Offer’

The Parental Engagement Framework Team are offering a free Parental Engagement ‘Taster Offer’ to schools. 

The team can offer schools an opportunity to gain a free insight into how the Parental Engagement Framework (PEF) can support your journey to work in partnership with families to positively impact on academic and wider outcomes. 

It will provide you with a firm foundation to build this work into your ongoing school priorities and in developing a culture of belonging within your school and community.

Download Parental engagement taster leaflet

Download Parental engagement leaflet 2024-2025

 

ReachOut Creative Futures – Open Day (28th February 2025) 

Maybe of interest to 

  • parents who are looking for alternative provision for their child aged 15+ who may have an EHCP  
  • professionals working with Families of young people who are struggling at school.

Find out more (download PDF leaflet) 

Together for Families Parenting Offer

Find out the latest on the Together for Families Parenting Offer and how families can access a range of courses and resources to support families with children across the age range.

 

Empathy Lab - read for empathy

Empathy Lab – Read for Empathy collection ’25 coming 13th February!

Our book collections for 3-16+ year olds are used across the UK in empathy education work, formal and informal. The 2025 collection is our biggest to date, and includes 70 books which are contemporary, diverse, and bold. They are expertly curated to build specific empathy skills like perspective-taking and a wide vocabulary for sharing emotions. Our training session helps you to make powerful use of the collection books in classrooms, libraries and homes. 

Why read for empathy?

Reading for pleasure, which significantly impacts positively on wellbeing, confidence and learning - particularly for underprivileged children - is at an all-time low. As reported by the National Literacy Society in 2024, only 1 in 3 8–18-year-olds enjoyed reading in their spare time. Reading for empathy is a great way to help children and young people read for pleasure, and it's now more important than ever.


Find out more…

 

Barnardos Resources for parents and carers

Helping parents and carers support 10-12-year-olds. A series of short animations talk about some of the challenges 10 to 12-year-olds are facing and the best ways parents can help a child deal with them – they’re great to watch together and can help start a conversation.

  • Dealing with Negative Thoughts
  • Being your own Best Friend

 

News from Anna Freud Mentally Healthy Schools 

Develop a mentally healthy school or college with our resources and toolkit

Support children and young people to manage their wellbeing with a whole-school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.  
 
Our mental health lead resource hub signposts over 110 practical resources from trusted organisations. Access the hub today to help you embed positive mental wellbeing in your setting.  
  
We have also added a number of new programmes to our targeted support toolkit. Use our targeted support tool to find the right evidence-based support options for your setting.  
  
Access our resources and targeted support toolkit to develop your setting’s approach

Mental health and wellbeing calendar: spring term 2025

A calendar of curriculum themes and occasions linked to mental health for the 2025 spring term, with activity ideas and suggestions for each theme.

Research opportunity

Are you a primary school teacher? Have you found yourself supporting your pupils with their mental health needs? Increase your impact on children's mental health by sharing your thoughts in our research study.

To get involved please email hannah.logue@annafreud.org 

 

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. 

Anita is sharing some super resources – which are well worth signing up for alone. Check it out. 

Wholehearted school counselling

 

Website update

Have you visited our new www.headstartkernow.org.uk website yet? 

Headstart Kernow redesign

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. 

Have a look and let us know what you think!