Well-being: NEPI Meeting 2 - 2nd Year
On Thursday 27th November we hosted our second North East Primary Innovators (NEPI) day of this academic year at Hoults Yard. It was wonderful to have the NEPI schools back in the room again. The focus of the day was Well-being.
Mortal Fools Workshop
We were very pleased that Kiz and Scott from Mortal Fools were able to join us for our second NEPI day. They delivered a practical session Resilience in Uncertainty from their CONNECT programme. CONNECT is a dynamic and practical training and professional development programme for business, teams and leaders, delivered by creative learning company Mortal Fools.
The morning focused on exploring factors that contribute to stress and how the quality of connections with others shapes mental wellbeing. Reflections also centred on the ways stressors affect both mind and body. The Transactional Analysis Model was introduced as a powerful framework for understanding dynamics in everyday interactions. These patterns become especially visible during times of stress but are present in all communication.
Discussion then turned to the building blocks of resilience, highlighting practical insights and strategies to strengthen the ability to navigate challenges with greater confidence and balance.
Children’s Well-being and Creativity
The afternoon session centred on the vital connection between child well-being and creativity. Discussions began with an exploration of how well-being can act as either a barrier or an enabler to learning. Creativity was then highlighted as a powerful pathway - fostering well-being – and being a powerful catalyst for growth and engagement.
Schools later reflected on moments when creative habits had visibly improved a child’s day, considering the broader ripple effects such practices can have. The focus was then brought to the creative habit of persistence: the ability to push forward in the face of obstacles or uncertainty. Emphasis was placed on cultivating resilience when outcomes are not immediate and on the lifelong benefits this creative habit can instill. Through case study activities, schools identified practical strategies to nurture persistence in children—strategies and approaches that encourage resilience without creating pressure or shame.
Overall, the day provided space for deep, thought-provoking conversations on the well-being of both staff and children, underscoring the essential role creativity plays in building resilience.
Junior Innovators
Lisa Hall and Helen Hunter from Cragside Primary School have also been into NEPI schools to work with their Junior Innovators. As part of the event, pupils reflected on what creativity means and how it shapes their learning. They explored the creative habits through engaging, scenario-based activities and considered their role as a Junior Innovator and the unique qualities they bring. The sessions encouraged children to think deeply about their own creative potential, giving them practical ways to apply these habits in school and beyond. It also focused on encouraging them in their role to be active in promoting creativity in their lessons, discussing it with teachers and with their peers.