Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 3rd October 2025
Friday 3rd October 2025
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
The Covid Enquiry has moved into the phase considering the impact on children and young people. There has been some powerful testimony from young people themselves and some surprising insights into the decision to close schools.
It was heartening to read this from Kate Eisenstein, the director of policy, research and legal for the inquiry, “We’ve heard stories of bereavements, of children living in overcrowded housing really struggling to keep up with their studies, lack of access to digital devices, and those living in families where there’s conflict, not having a safe space to turn to while schools were closed,” she says.
“But we also heard amazing stories of children’s confidence growing because they were learning in a more independent way or finding positive communities online. So that takeaway of resilience and adaptability has been startling to see.” (Guardian newspaper 29th September)
Online life
There continues to be a lot of coverage / discussion of online safety / use of mobile ‘phones by YP etc. Much of it recently fuelled by Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation. This appears to have increased the clamour for restricting, or even banning, access to the internet, social media and devices for under 16’s. It’s a powerful argument and, despite the wide-ranging backlash from academics who have challenged both his research and the conclusions he draws, it chimes with what many of us ‘feel’ in our gut.
Plus, almost every day there is some new piece of research or studies that highlight the risks. Headlines from recent days:
“Those who are struggling academically at school are more like to have upsetting interactions on their phones” (Bristol UWE report)
“Pupils are confiding in AI chatbots these are the signs…” (TES 26th Sept. 2025 including a look at Me, Myself and AI)
Could we really put the genie back in the bottle and stop access for under 16’s? And, would we really want to? A key part of the work of HSK over the past decade has been about raising awareness of the very real problems but at the same time we have emphasised that rather than banning or discouraging smartphone use we should be enabling children and young people to reap the benefits and learn not just to survive but thrive online… (with more help from the tech companies and effective legislation).
I’ve recently come across the work of Professor Lucy Foulkes a research psychologist at Oxford University who studies teenagers and teenage minds and has written widely about creating a more balanced, digital resilience approach to the debate. (Well worth a look).
What’s on the website?
With online life in mind, our look at what’s on the HSK website is our Digital Resilience offer.
We have been lucky to work with Professor Andy Phippen in recent years and as a result we have some outstanding tools, resources and training for professionals, parents & carers and YP.
Headstart Comms
We have refreshed our comms tools and resources which can be found on our website.
Don’t forget you can now access this and previous newsletters on the website
Wellbeing Training with Headstart Kernow
What Every Teenager Needs to Know About Mental Health
9th October 2025
16.30 – 18.00
Online via Zoom (FREE)
A HeadStart Kernow event with TIS UK. Trauma Informed Schools and Communities proudly present a film that every teenager and every adult who cares for them should see.
The film is aimed at professionals working in secondary schools and colleges; foster carers and voluntary sector professionals supporting teenagers and young adults.
Headstart Digital Resilience presents
2025 Tech Positive Symposium
9.30-4.30, Wednesday 22nd October 2025,
Venton Centre, Chapel Parc, Newquay TR8 5AH
Dates for Grandma on the Moon Autumn term
Have you joined the Headstart Kernow Creative Education membership yet?
Sign up here: www.headstartkernow.org.uk/creative-education/
Download our updated Creative Education membership information fliers with access links for:
Stay in touch: Check out our training and other support and sign up for the occasional newsletter.
And follow us on our page on the Services for Schools platform.
News and Resources
It’s Optimistic October with the latest Action for Happiness monthly wellbeing calendar!
Barnardo’s and The King’s Fund
Calling all Young Creators – The Big Question
What would being a part of the healthiest generation of children look like for you?
The King's Fund is working in partnership with Barnardo's to host a special event in November where we will explore this big question and we want to hear from you! We're inviting primary school children like you from across England to share your ideas through art, photos or poems.
Oracy October 2025 Voice 21
Throughout October, Voice 21 will be shining a spotlight on the vital role that speaking, listening, and communication play in learning, wellbeing, and life beyond school. Join us for:
- Expert-led webinars exploring The Oracy Framework, Developmental Language Disorder and more, with practical strategies for embedding oracy in classrooms and across subjects.
- Insights from NAPLIC on building an inclusive culture of oracy for students with developmental language disorder (DLD).
- Free resource packs to use with your students, designed to develop their understanding of the Oracy Framework
- First-hand stories from classroom practitioners about transforming their teaching and learning through oracy
Free resources from Pooky Knightsmith
Webinar Recording: 7 Quick Wins for Morning School Anxiety (EBSA)
Upcoming: 7 Quick Wins: When Behaviour Escalates Fast
Thursday 16th October at 4:00 PM UK time
Be Happy Resources – free resource
World Mental Health Day 2025
Take part in Empathy Action Month this November.
Register now to unlock early access to FREE digital resources, online author events, curated booklists, and much more!
Do Something that Matters this November and explore how stories can spark real life change.
Suitable for Primary, Secondary and SEND settings, you’ll find brilliant ideas across four themed weeks to bring meaningful purpose to reading, and help young people take action in the real world.
We are very excited to be joined by three brilliant authors for live events: this year’s Carnegie winner Margaret McDonald and acclaimed author Ashley Hickson Lovence for secondary on 10 November, and Konnie Huq for Primary on 25 November.
Register now to unlock early access to all resources from 10 October.
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.