It is the beginning of the school year for many in the northern hemisphere and the start of Spring for the south. This regular trajectory is comforting in the face of challenging global news. This newsletter focuses on the positive where possible – not just to keep our spirits up but to highlight again how important education is in creating a better world. What children learn and how they learn it are both important. Scroll down and check the links for anything that takes your interest – research, conferences, webinars, podcasts & more.

Love of Learning

Dominic Boddington and I have now visited all ten schools in our Love of Learning Project and are finalising the book that will be published by Routledge next year as Inspiring Children’s Love of Learning – Exceptional Practice in Primary Schools.

This has been the most awe-inspiring and uplifting journey. We want to tell everyone about what actually works for children and families even in the most disadvantaged schools.  You can read vignettes about all the schools on the Growing Great Schools website

Register for the Love of Learning webinar at UCL on 9th December 2026 at 4.30pm.

Positive Schools Australia

In October and November I will be in Australia speaking at the Positive Schools conferences in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. More information https://www.positiveschools.com/positive-schools-2026-mental-health-wellbeing-conferences
Looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces.

I am also running a Circle Solutions trainer in Townsville at the end of October.

Other 2026 Conferences

Bologna September 10 & 11: Academic Network on Global Education and Learning. 

Worcestershire October 9: National Association for Pastoral Care in Education 

London and Abu Dhabi November 19-21– on-line and in person. Bright Start Early Years

Liverpool December 1. TEESNET: Radical Hope, Renewal and Change-Making in Education. 

The Climate Crisis 

Unprecedented heat-waves, fires, floods and now the devastation caused by the melting glacier in Nepal are all evidence of a warming world. What can we tell our children?  First be informed.

National Climate emergency briefing
This briefing took place in the UK last November but is not getting the media attention it needs. [Not suitable for those under 15 years.]  https://www.nebriefing.org/

Now this: How to talk with children about the climate crisis.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pRK23JbwNBXM29Lou70bOvBz1fH2LL_r/view?pli=1

Agency is so important here – children need to know what they might do to make a difference. Everything matters, everything counts. In several of our Love of Learning schools pupils were writing letters, going to conferences, making posters, being active.

Research 
The 2026 World Happiness Report – amongst other things this report addresses the use of social media and its link to the deterioration of wellbeing across North America and Western Europe.
What schools see, what pupils feel Report on pupil experiences in secondary schools.

Podcasts
I have been invited to take part in several podcasts in recent months. If you have time and interest you can find them at these links.
The Psychology of Childhood on Everything Psychology with Paul Davies and Charlie Lewis
The Missing Pillars of Education on Rethinking Education with Dr James Mannion and David Cameron
Creating Flourishing Cultures in Education. An introduction to ASPIRE with Michele Deeks – also discussing the ASPIRE Culture Cards we have developed to put this model into practice. Cards have 20% discount from At My Best with code EdInstitution20

Parenta hosted these webinars for early years providers – on Shaping Positive Behaviour and Managing the Challenging 

Transition to University
Many young people and their parents will be facing a major change in their lives as university life beckons.  Elizabeth Gillies and Louise Wilies have developed a series of podcasts, a quiz and a course aimed at enabling students and families to negotiate, survive and thrive in this transition. Check in here.

Circle Solutions
This pedagogical framework for social-emotional learning is still going strong in many countries with positive outcomes for belonging, behaviour and relationships. I have just come back from Budapest and will be going to Cairo in March but there are also accredited Circle Trainers across the world. We welcome enquiries.

In other news: 

Compassion-Focused Approaches for Educational Psychologist Practice – a 3 Day CPD Autumn Workshop – for EPs interested in using tools from compassion focussed approaches in casework and supervision and learning more about sustaining compassionate work over time. Find out more details and book here.

Mary-Ann Ridgeway, principal of the REAL school in Budapest, has written In Other Woods: The Story of a Small School. It is dedicated to a philosophy that promotes agency in learning and an educational approach that enacts all the ASPIRE principles.  It is jam packed with ideas, heart-warming stories and suggestions for dealing with inevitable challenges. Published by Troubador 2024.

The Handbook of Wellbeing; Research Transforming Practice that I co-edited by Ansie Kitching is now in production. We will let people know the publication date as soon as we do!