For some of you this will be the beginning of the new school year – I hope you managed to have a restful summer break. Others will be half-way through the academic year and perhaps getting ready for Spring. Wherever you are, welcome to the GGSWW September newsletter, especially if you have joined us recently. As with all our newsletters there are links to resources, conferences, events, research, Circle Solutions training and new projects. You do not have to read it all, just click on anything that sparks your interest.

Love of Learning Research

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Education (APPG) in England had an inquiry into the Loss of Love of Learning. It was a powerful report. You can read this here on our website, along with the evidence that was submitted.

Call for Action: We know, however, that there are exceptional schools in England where both staff and children are happily engaged and can’t wait for Monday mornings!  It takes courage to grow such schools. So we are embarking on a project to highlight what these remarkable schools are doing. We plan to speak with heads, teachers, children and parents, see what is happening and the difference this is making. We are focusing on primary schools for now and already have several keen to be involved but need examples from across the country.  If you are working in, or know a state school in your area who fits this brief please email sue@sueroffey.com to express interest and/or find out more.

ASPIRE Culture Cards

Thanks to all who helped with the piloting of these cards in schools, organisations and communities. The overall response was really positive. Here are a few of the comments:

  • They were really easy to use to generate reflection and discussion.
  • The cards gave us an opportunity to talk and reflect on our strengths and what’s worked well especially after a difficult year.
  • These cards were just amazing for helping people to go ’actually, we do do this’ … by the end of the session these cards had brought [the team] back together.

This set of 36 cards based in the ASPIRE principles will be available for purchase from At My Best in a couple of month’s time. To see what they look like and express interest click here. They replace Strengths in Circles cards from St Luke’s Innovative Resources.

Publications

The Consequences of Loneliness for Young People – chapter in Intechopen . Poor mental ill-health is one consequence, but the desperate need to belong can also lead to many negative outcomes for both vulnerable individuals and their communities.

Article in the Conversation June 2025, by Christian van Nieuwerburgh: What you might do when constant negativity in the news makes you doubt the goodness of people. Important to hold onto when the news around the world is so grim.

Upcoming events, courses and conferences

This week (7-14 September 2025)  is National Child Protection Week in Australia. Many talks and webinars on giving kids a fair go.

September 11, 6pm BST: free webinar for parents & carers supporting their young adults on transition to university. Successful Student Transitions offers timely, trusted support for young adults as they move to university through a six-module online course.

September 23, 2025: Relationships in Education – two hour early evening interactive webinar. Run by Innovating Teacher’s Academy and delivered by Sue Roffey.

September 19, 2025: EP fest 2025 – Online: Community Psychology, Collective Action and Lasting Change.

October 10, 2025. Annual conference and award ceremony for the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education in Worcester.

October 24-25, 2025: London Circle Solutions Train the Trainer course:  For those who have taken an Introduction to Circle Solutions course and want to be accredited to train whole staff groups this two day course. Details here. Please email me directly if you are interested in running in Introduction day.  This is social and emotional learning with a safe, solution-focused, strengths-based pedagogy.

The Positive Schools Conferences are across Australia in October and November: more details here.

November 11–13, 2025: Online International Conference on Transformative Education for Human and Planetary Flourishing run by the Global Citizenship network. We have a few complimentary passes: please email sue@sueroffey.com – First contacts get the passes. We wil, however ask you to report on at least one session you attended, with your review posted on the GGSWW site.

November 12, 2025: 2 hour on-line course for Lunchtime Supervisors  by Therese Hoyle.

Parenta: The first webinar on shaping positive behaviour had  5 star reviews on Google. I am doing the second on November 18, 2025 on responding to challenges. This is free!

Think Equal

This amazing SEL program for 3-6 year olds is now in more than 40 countries – but not yet across England, though some local authorities like Birmingham have seen the value. I have been liaising with the founder Leslee Udwin to persuade the DfE to meet with us. So far, no luck. Why is the government not interested? As we know, early intervention makes sense in so many ways for both individuals and society. All ideas welcome!

The importance of play in education 

Therese Hoyle on why play matters: packed with evidence, stories, and practical strategies that highlight the vital role of play for the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of every child. From boosting resilience and emotional regulation to reducing bullying and improving classroom behaviour, play is essential and builds brains.

Play England report for a national wake-up call on play,

Petition to Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England’s Key Stage 1 Curriculum

Other sites to check out 

https://www.annafreud.org/get-involved/networks/child-outcomes-research-consortium/

https://www.bouncetogether.co.uk/resources/stirling-childrens-wellbeing-scale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpexwpPz6f8 – Webinar – Future Proofing Child and Adolescent Health in Europe and Central Asia – draft WHO/UNICEF 2026-2030 Strategy