Learning
For local evaluation of the HeadStart programme see our Local Learning page.
Emotional Wellbeing Data
Each year (2017-2021) nearly 9000 children in Cornwall undertake the Wellbeing Measurement Framework survey (WMF): the first large-scale survey in Cornwall to measure emotional wellbeing, mental health and support networks of children aged 10-16.
The WMF forms part of the national evaluation of the HeadStart programme and is led by Professor Jessica Deighton of the Evidence Based Practice Unit (University College London and Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families) and is implemented locally by the HeadStart team in Cornwall Council. For more information about the survey (including what it contains and the ethics approval) see this Briefing Note.
Accessing the WMF results
We support schools to use the WMF to inform their Whole School Approach by producing hard copy reports of their results to inform their School Action Plans. Schools can also access their school results through the online tool developed and managed by University of Manchester (using their unique login and password). A student-friendly version of the WMF has been produced by HeadStart Kernow along with materials for schools to engage students in improving wellbeing in the whole school community.
The aggregated Cornwall-level data is available for everyone to access. See the annual reports from 2017, 2018, and 2019 . Or access the data via the online tool by going to https://uomseed.com/headstart-secondary/ and using the username hskernow and password 8E6wyAW7
Local analysis
In Cornwall we data-link the WMF results with locally held data to use in the following ways. This is further described in a case-study produced by CORC:
- We embed the WMF results in discussion with schools to inform a Whole School Approach to emotional health and wellbeing.
- We give presentations to Headteachers, Governors , the School Effectiveness Team and the Virtual School.
- We contribute to evidence bases (such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Summary on Mental Health (2019), Mental Health in Schools Wave 3 trailblazer, the MOD evidence base on Service Children)
Young Carers: A forthcoming journal article produced with Dr Richard Sharpe (Public Health) and an unpublished dissertation by Hannah Dixon for her BSc in Childhood Studies at University of Bristol (2019) found:
- Young Carers experienced significantly greater emotional and mental wellbeing problems than their peers
- Young Carers in schools that implement Young Carer support (such as after school groups) generally obtain higher scores for wellbeing as measured by the Student Resilience Survey measures on the WMF.
National evaluation of HeadStart
The Evidence Based Practice Unit uses the WMF results from Cornwall and the other five Local Authorities, who participate in the HeadStart programme, to evaluate and learn from the HeadStart programme
Reports:
Whole school approaches to promoting mental health: what does the evidence say?
Learning from HeadStart: the mental health and wellbeing of adolescent boys and girls
Policy Briefings:
What are HeadStart interventions focusing on to improve mental health in 10 to 16-year-olds?’
- Partnerships are focused on interventions that seek to increase wellbeing
- Partnerships are more focused on interventions to promote individual characteristics such as coping skills, as opposed to community attributes such as community relationships.
- There are 5 types of interventions for young people that are outlined in the report.
Supporting young people at home: what helps young people with their mental health and wellbeing?
