Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 18th September 2026
Friday 18th September 2026
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
Find out more about the Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub and the support / resources / tools available to support “a Whole School, trauma informed, relational Approach to Wellbeing that is ‘Everybody’s Business’".
Welcome
As we move into the autumn term, we're pleased to share a range of opportunities, resources and events supporting the wellbeing, learning and development of children, young people and families across Cornwall. This edition includes training opportunities, mental health and wellbeing resources, SEND support, community activities, and important health information to help schools and settings support their pupils and communities. We warmly encourage all education staff who haven't yet booked a place, to join the upcoming TIS webinar on Belonging and Inclusion – details below!
Thank you for all that you do to support children, young people and their families. We hope you find these updates useful and encourage you to share relevant information with colleagues, parents and carers.
Wellbeing book of the week
For more book suggestions on a range of topics, please visit our headstart wellbeing book club.
This week we are revisiting a favourite practical resource to support a Whole School Approach to wellbeing.
The Mentally Healthy Schools Workbook: Practical Tips, Ideas and Whole School Strategies
Pooky Knightsmith
This book is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to promote and encourage wellbeing in their school, or evaluate their existing provision, in line with current government priorities. It covers not only the day-to-day practical steps you can take to meet the mental health needs of learners, but also provides a whole bank of ideas for ensuring you adopt a whole-school approach to positive mental health. Pooky Knightsmith lays out tried and tested tools you can use to evaluate the overall mental health of a school, showing how to improve and support the mental health of staff, and how to ensure that the voice of every learner is heard and valued, including the most vulnerable - and that everyone involved with the school feels safe, healthy and happy. Pooky's simple 'litmus test' framework lays out six practical areas you can explore to implement change within your own school, with explanations, sheets to fill in, tips from loads of school staff, and case examples that break these ideas down into easily digestible chunks. This much-needed book is a jumping off point for meaningful change in all aspects of your school community that will promote, support and strengthen mental health at whole-school level.
At the heart of this book are Pooky’s six simple litmus tests for school wellbeing. These provide an excellent starting point for reflecting on the Whole School Approach in your school. They are also great for sharing with groups of stakeholders: SLT; Staff; Governors; Parents and pupils. Alongside each of the litmus test are practical ideas for change that can be implemented ‘now’ and quite simply / at an individual level to planning longer term strategic change
‘…small, slow, sustainable steps are the route to success. The tortoise wins this race every time.’
This week's Headstart highlight!
Creative Education online platforms for schools and parents and carers.
A quick reminder to all users that the Headstart Kernow free access to the platforms for schools and parents and carers will finish on 31st October 2026 as originally planned
We have enjoyed a super relationship with Creative Ed since it was first set up in 2020 and we are sad not to be able to continue to support access for our schools / families.
If you are currently accessing the platform and would like to explore continued access please contact sophie.beresford@creativeeducation.co.uk who will be happy to help.
FREE Training Opportunities for Education Settings
HeadStart Kernow has two fantastic FREE opportunities available for staff working in education settings. We'd love to share them with you and encourage you to get involved.
SPACE - Supporting Parents and Children Emotionally
1 December - 3 December 2026 Online
Following the 3-day course with our partners at Rock Pool CIC, facilitators are equipped to deliver a five-week SPACE programme for parents and carers and/or children and young people within their own settings, helping to strengthen relationships, connections and emotional wellbeing across the school community. Please see the attached for more information.
Spaces are limited, therefore if you would like to register your interest, please do so as soon as you can by emailing space@cornwall.gov.uk
TIS UK Webinar, Practical Strategies to Create Belonging and Inclusion
Wednesday, 30th September 2026, 3.30 - 5pm Online
Create a school culture where every child feels valued, connected and able to thrive. This inspiring and practical training explores evidence-based approaches to belonging and inclusion, helping staff build emotionally safe, relationally rich environments. Gain actionable strategies, real-life case studies, and tools to strengthen attendance, engagement, wellbeing and achievement. Delegates will also receive a comprehensive Belonging Audit and implementation toolkit to support lasting whole-setting change. Please see attached for more information.
Please do let your colleagues know about this valuable opportunity, and book your place here: Training calendar : Headstart Kernow
Education Support
Free Teacher Wellbeing Toolkit: Start the School Year Well
The charity Education Support has launched a free wellbeing toolkit for teachers and education staff. The resource brings together practical, evidence-based guidance to help staff protect their mental health, manage workplace pressures and build healthy wellbeing habits throughout the school year. Topics include managing return-to-work anxiety, preventing burnout, setting boundaries, regulating stress and maintaining positive mental wellbeing.
Discover What's Available Through HeadStart Kernow
We've created a brand new set of flyers for children and young people, parents and carers, and professionals to help everyone access the wellbeing support, resources and opportunities available through HeadStart Kernow and Start Now.
Perfect for sharing on notice boards, in newsletters, on websites, through parent communications or with staff teams, these flyers provide a simple route into the wide range of free support available through HeadStart Kernow and Start Now.
Download the flyers and help connect your school community with free wellbeing support across Cornwall.
Explore and download the new flyers here
Local Offer SEND Cornwall (Poster)
While We Wait: Community SEND Support Day
Thursday 1 October 2026, 10.00am to 2.00pm
Parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are invited to attend Cornwall's first While We Wait Community SEND Support Day at St Erme Community Centre, Truro. The event offers an opportunity to speak directly with local services, ask questions, access advice and support, and connect with other families while waiting for support.
Representatives from health, education, social care, SENDIASS and voluntary sector organisations will be available throughout the day. Children who are not in school are welcome to attend.
Pooky Knightsmith
Free Resource: Staff Wellbeing as an Ecosystem Slides & Notes
Pooky Knightsmith has shared a free set of slides and accompanying notes exploring staff wellbeing in education settings. Based on the Human Kind Staff Wellbeing Framework, the resource encourages schools to view staff wellbeing as an interconnected ecosystem rather than a single issue to address.
The materials cover topics including building authentic staff connections, supporting colleagues effectively, creating meaningful professional development opportunities, improving INSET day experiences, and practical strategies to enhance wellbeing across the school workforce.
YoungMinds Hello Yellow 2026 - World Mental Health Day
Friday, 9 October 2026
Schools, organisations and communities are invited to take part in Hello Yellow, YoungMinds' annual fundraising campaign for young people's mental health. To mark World Mental Health Day, participants are encouraged to wear yellow, start conversations about mental health and raise funds to ensure young people can access support when they need it. This year marks 10 years of the Hello Yellow campaign.
Schools can sign up to access fundraising ideas, campaign resources, posters and activities to help make their Hello Yellow event a success.
Paul Dix | Behaviour, Additional Needs and Inclusion
Wednesday 7 October 2026, 4.00pm to 5.00pm (Online)
Join behaviour specialist Paul Dix for a free online workshop exploring behaviour, additional needs and inclusion in education settings. The session will share practical approaches and strategies to help staff better support children and young people, while creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and supported.
NHS
Free Flu Vaccinations for Children and Young People
As we move into the autumn and winter months, families are being encouraged to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination for eligible children and young people. Children are more likely to catch and spread flu, particularly in schools and community settings. While flu is often unpleasant, it can also lead to serious illness, missed school days and disruption for families.
Getting vaccinated helps protect children, reduce the spread of infection and safeguard more vulnerable members of the community. Eligible staff, parents and carers can also book their flu vaccination through the NHS.
Find out more and book a flu vaccination
Town End Research School - Fully Funded CPD Opportunities
Our friends at Town End Research School have asked us to share details of two fully funded (DfE RISE North East) professional development programmes, which are available to schools beyond their local area. Places are open to primary and secondary settings, with a registration deadline of 25 September 2026.
Inclusion in Action
A free online leadership programme for SENCOs, inclusion leads and school leaders, running from October 2026 to March 2027. The programme focuses on evidence-informed inclusion, adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, helping schools identify barriers to learning and strengthen inclusive practice across their setting.
Write to Success
A free online CPD programme for literacy leads, designed to strengthen writing provision from primary through to Key Stage 3. The programme offers two pathways focusing on transcription skills and writing composition, providing practical tools, training and resources to support improved writing outcomes for all pupils.
Download our updated Creative Education membership information fliers with access links for:
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