Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 3rd July 2026
Friday 3rd July 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
We are very much looking forward to joining support staff from across the CELT MAT this week as a part of their INSET day. The day is for anyone in non-teaching roles from the office to pastoral to all the vital ‘backroom’ colleagues without whom school life would be very different.
To be able to have a conversation about the power potential of the ‘everyday’ interactions they have with pupils is a privilege. It also an opportunity to say thank you to them in person. And by proxy to thank you to all of the support staff across Cornwall.
Book of the Week
Transition is a hot topic of conversation at the moment. We have two transition recommendations –
The First Year by Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd - Stanton
The follow up to the wonderful 'The Final Year'. Nate is now starting secondary school and finding his feet. Then there is an unexpected arrival in his life…
We loved this. A rip roaring and hugely funny exploration of a first year at secondary alongside an honest and compassionate celebration of family life. The verse novel format is brilliantly done and makes it accessible to a huge range of readers. Highly Recommended.
Get Organized without Losing It by Janet Fox Illustrated by Steve Mark
Published as part of a ‘Laugh and Learn’ series, this is a light-hearted take on getting, and hopefully staying, organised. From taming the chaos in the school bag to top tips and tricks for prepping and planning homework.
The tone is light and the illustrations fun (and helpful) – Well worth a look.
For more book suggestions on a range of topics, please visit our Headstart Wellbeing Book Club
This week's Headstart highlight!
Connect Card - Headstart Kernow
The Headstart Kernow Connect Card offers young people access to opportunities and support across Cornwall. It also helps link young people to local services, activities and wellbeing support. The card is free to order and easy to sign up for, making it a simple way to access additional opportunities and benefits.
Find out more about the Connect Card and how to order a free card here.
Headstart’s Digital Resilience Resource of the Week
Resources for Parents and Carers
We recognise that supporting parents and carers to navigate the digital world can be challenging. Our online resource hub includes guidance to help identify whether behaviours are typical, require monitoring, or may be a cause for concern. It also features a series of age-specific podcasts offering practical advice and insights.
Access the full range of parent and carer resources here:
https://www.headstartkernow.org.uk/parent-digital-offer/
In addition, we have recently launched a dedicated podcast series for parents and carers, covering topics such as parental controls, sexting and gaming. The first episode is available here:
Parents Series Episode 1 - Sexting by Headstart Online Resilience Podcast
Action for Happiness wellbeing calendar
Jump Back July Let's find ways to bounce back!
Free Kids’ Kindness Club & Summer Kindness Challenge – School of Kindness
The School of Kindness offers a free Kids’ Kindness Club, providing regular activities, stories and ideas to encourage kindness and positive behaviours in children. Over the summer, the Kindness Challenge offers a simple, engaging way for children and families to build small, everyday habits that support wellbeing and connection.
Find out more about the Kids’ Kindness Club and summer kindness challenge here.
Neurodivergent Children & the Move to Secondary School – Dr Pooky Knightsmith
The move from primary to secondary is one of the biggest a child makes, and for a neurodivergent young person it can be the moment when everything that's been steadying them falls away at once. This session explores the practical, evidence-informed things that help at home and at school. It's 45 minutes, suitable for a mixed audience of professionals and families, and comes with the slides, companion notes and a CPD certificate.
A few of the things we get into:
- Starting with strengths, and keeping them in view
- Making the unfamiliar familiar before September
- Easing the executive load, so energy goes on learning rather than remembering
- The key audit: what to keep, what to replace, what to let go
- Making sure the right person is waiting for them
This session is part of a series of on-demand webinars (cost involved) created by Pooky
Find out more about this webinar and other on‑demand CPD opportunities here.
Supporting a Child Through Bereavement - Downloadable Guide
This updated guide offers gentle, practical advice for supporting a child when someone dies. Covering how to talk about death, support different emotional responses and recognise when extra help may be needed, it provides accessible ideas for both families and professionals, including specific considerations for neurodivergent children.
How to Support a Child When Someone Dies.pdf
How to Support a Child When Someone Dies.docx
Empathy Lab - Latest Updates
Empathy Lab continues to share resources and opportunities designed to build empathy, understanding and connection in children and young people. Their updates highlight campaigns, activities and materials that can be used in schools and communities to support emotional literacy and inclusive practice.
Find out more about Empathy Lab’s latest updates and opportunities here.
Time2Move Holiday Programme - Active Cornwall
The Time2Move Holiday Programme offers a range of activities for children and young people across Cornwall during the school holidays. Designed to support physical activity, wellbeing and social connection, the programme provides accessible opportunities for young people to stay active and engaged over the summer.
Find out more about the Time2Move Holiday Programme and how to get involved here.
Hello Yellow 2026 - YoungMinds
Hello Yellow, led by YoungMinds, will return on 9 October 2026, encouraging schools and communities to show support for young people’s mental health. Resources are already available to download, providing ideas and materials to help settings plan ahead and get involved.
Find out more about Hello Yellow and access resources here.
‘Looksmaxxing’ Report - Centre for Young Lives
The Centre for Young Lives has published a new report exploring the impact of the ‘looksmaxxing’ trend on boys and young men. The findings highlight growing concerns around body image pressures, harmful online content and links to wider issues such as misogyny and online influence. The report calls for increased awareness and support for schools to address topics such as masculinity, body image and digital wellbeing.
Find out more about the ‘looksmaxxing’ report and its findings here.
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