Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 5th March 2026
Thursday 5th March 2026
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
Welcome to the first week of March. The mornings are getting lighter, the daffodils are starting to appear, and it finally feels as though spring is beginning to stretch its way back in. This week has also been Eating Disorders Awareness Week, with its powerful theme of community. It’s a reminder of how much it matters when young people feel held by the people around them - understood, supported, and never left to face things alone. Thank you for continuing to create environments where wellbeing is valued and where connection truly has the space to grow.
Wellbeing Book of the Week
It's OK: Being Kind to Yourself When Things Feel Hard - by Wendy O'Leary
This gentle and uplifting picture book is a perfect wellbeing read for younger children in KS1, offering a sweet simple introduction to self‑compassion. Through reassuring affirmations and relatable feelings, this book helps children understand that difficult emotions are a normal part of life and that kindness towards themselves is a powerful tool for navigating them.
The story follows the everyday moments that can feel overwhelming: doing something you don’t want to do, feeling a rush of anger, sadness, or frustration, or simply having a tough day. Instead of pushing those feelings aside, the book encourages children to pause and notice what they’re experiencing. The main story is followed by 10 exercises focused on ways to develop self-compassion, such as Kind Voice, Kind Body, Kind Touch, and Hugging Breath.
What’s on the Headstart Kernow website?
What Resilience Really Means
Resilience is sometimes described as “ordinary magic” - the everyday support, relationships and opportunities that help children bounce back from challenges. It isn’t about grit or personality, but about giving young people the right conditions to thrive. The Boingboing Resilience Framework offers practical “resilient moves” that schools, families and communities can use to help children both beat the odds and change the odds.
Read more about resilience here on the Headstart Kernow website
Don’t forget you can now access this and previous newsletters on the website
Training & Events
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
Understanding Support in Schools
Loughborough University is inviting secondary school staff to take part in a short survey exploring how students with eating disorders are supported, particularly around eating in school and PE. Completed responses can enter a prize draw for one of five £20 Amazon vouchers.
Let’s Talk About Anxiety - Anna Freud
Anna Freud has released a new animation and teacher toolkit designed to help secondary students aged 11–13 understand anxiety as a normal emotion. The resource explores how anxiety can affect both body and mind, why people experience it differently, and offers simple strategies to help young people regulate strong feelings. The toolkit includes materials for lessons and assemblies, plus guidance for teachers, PSHE leads and parents/carers.
How Governance Shapes Wellbeing in Schools – Place2Be
The National Governance Association highlights how governors and trustees play a quiet but powerful role in shaping the conditions where pupils can thrive. Strategic decisions around culture, policy and inclusion influence everything from attendance to early identification of unmet needs, helping ensure wellbeing is treated as fundamental to success. As the blog notes, “mental health is no longer a peripheral issue in schools” and the questions boards ask over time help create environments where pupils feel safe, supported and able to succeed.
The Building Blocks of Good Wellbeing – Education Support
A new guide for teachers highlights three simple habits that make a big difference to mental wellbeing: moving your body, eating well and getting good sleep. These everyday steps can boost energy, improve focus and help ease symptoms of stress and anxiety, all at a pace that feels manageable. The resource also explores how exercise supports mood, confidence and resilience, offering practical ways to build healthy routines into busy school life.
ELSA – Free resources
A spotlight on the wide range of wellbeing and emotional literacy resources available on Elsa‑Support. This section highlights the breadth of downloadable materials, including lesson plans, worksheets, mindfulness activities, pupil leaflets, tangible items from Debbie’s Hive, and an expanding collection of secondary resources. It also notes that users can request new resources or adaptations, ensuring support that’s flexible, relevant, and tailored to children’s needs.
Bullying Prevention Tool - A tool for the school and children’s workforce
A practical framework designed to help schools and children’s settings strengthen their bullying prevention strategy. Created using the Anti‑Bullying Alliance’s expertise, this tool outlines four key elements of effective practice, supported by useful examples and resources. It’s a simple, structured way to understand what’s happening in your setting and take meaningful steps towards a whole‑school approach to preventing bullying.
Supporting Mental Health in Schools
This week, we’re highlighting a fantastic range of resources designed to help schools, education staff, caregivers, and young people nurture positive mental health and wellbeing. These collections include ready‑to‑use school packs with lesson plans, assemblies, and guidance for staff, pupils, and families, as well as dedicated materials for caregivers and young adults. Whether you’re looking for curriculum resources, fundraising ideas, or support options, there’s something for everyone to help create a more supportive and informed school community.
Anti‑Bullying Week: Key Findings from Kooth Research
New research from Kooth and The Diana Award highlights how widespread bullying remains for young people. Two in three 11–18‑year‑olds report being bullied in school, and nearly half experience bullying on social media. The impact on mental health is significant, with many young people feeling angry, depressed, or hopeless. Encouragingly, most say they would speak to a friend or teacher, reinforcing the need for a supportive and safe school culture. Kooth and The Diana Award continue to champion early support and empower young people to speak out and seek help.
New Deepfake & AI Safety Lessons – Healthy Surrey
The PSHE Association, with support from the Home Office, has launched free KS2–KS4 lesson plans to help schools teach pupils about deepfakes and AI‑generated imagery. These resources support upcoming RSHE requirements and help students understand the law, online risks, and where to get help.
Have you visited our new www.headstartkernow.org.uk website yet?
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!
Stay in touch: Check out our training and other support at www.headstartkernow.org.uk and sign up for the occasional newsletter.
And follow us on our page on the Services for Schools platform.