Why sleep matters – educating young people on the importance of sleep
WEDNESDAY 06 JUNE 2018
COSLA CONFERENCE CENTRE, CENTRAL EDINBURGH
HALF-DAY CONFERENCE
Event Outline
Discussions at several of our recent training events on children’s mental health, child welfare and child neglect have touched on the importance of sleep to children and young people. A significant number of delegates from across Scotland’s schools, education and wider integrated children’s services have asked us to explore this topic in greater detail.
In response, this half-day training conference – specially designed in partnership with a number of renowned sleep experts – will focus on the role schools can play in educating young people about the importance of good sleep.
Using a mix of presentations, existing examples of good practice and interactive roundtable sessions, the event will:
- examine sleep and the sleep cycle and explore why this is particularly important to teenagers
- consider the impact poor sleep can have on young people’s behaviours, their engagement in the classroom and their educational attainment
- explore the effects of social media and digital technologies on young people’s sleep
- highlight the benefits good sleep can have in helping young people maintain good mental health and wellbeing, particularly during times of increased stress or anxiety (such as around school exams)
- provide delegates with ‘good sleep hygiene’ tips and ‘sleep education’ lesson plans that can be delivered to pupils
Supported by
Speakers
Dr. Christopher-James Harvey
Director Of The TEENSLEEP Project & Associate Director (Sleep Medicine), Sleep and Circadian Neurosciences Institute, University of Oxford
Dr Heather Cleland Woods
Lecturer - School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
Gemma Hay
Principal Teacher of Citizenship, Enterprise and International Education, George Heriot's School
Dr. Jim White
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Stress Control
Tam Baillie
Speaker, trainer and consultant; formerly Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People
Holly Scott
PhD Researcher – School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
Kirsten Russell
Research Assistant - School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde
Agenda
08:45-09:15 Registration and morning refreshments
09:15-09:25 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Tam Baillie, Speaker, trainer and consultant; formerly Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People
Session 1: Why sleep matters – Sleep and Young People’s Wellbeing
09:25-09:45 Welcome Address: Sleep and why it matters to young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Dr Jim White, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Stress Control
09:45-10:05 Understanding the role of adolescent sleep disturbance as a risk factor for suicide and self-harm in young people
- What research tells us about the relationship between sleep and self-harm (with and without suicidal intent) in adolescents
- What we know about adolescent sleep, self-harm and suicide in Scotland
- Why sleep may contribute to suicide prevention efforts
Kirsten Russell, Research Assistant – School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde
10:05-10:15 Opportunities for questions and discussion
Session 2: Why sleep matters – Sleep and education
10:15-10:55 Keynote address – The importance of sleep in education (and can we improve it?)
Dr. Christopher-James Harvey, Director Of The TEENSLEEP Project & Associate Director (Sleep Medicine), Sleep and Circadian Neurosciences Institute, University of Oxford
10:55-11:10 Opportunities for questions and discussion
11:10-11:25 Tea and coffee break, opportunities for networking
Session 3: Educating young people about sleep – what works in schools
11:25-11:45 The role of schools in promoting good sleep – an example of ‘sleep education’ in practice
Gemma Hay, Principal Teacher of Citizenship, Enterprise and International Education, George Heriot’s School
11:45-12:00 Opportunities for questions and discussion
12:00-12:30 Interactive session: #sleepyteens – understanding how and why our teens use social media at bedtime
- What we know about adolescent sleep and social media use so far?
- How does this fit with the portrayal in the media and our general held beliefs?
- What should we be doing as teachers, parents and carers?
Dr Heather Cleland Woods, Lecturer – School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
12:30-12:50 #Sleepyteens research project
- Working in partnership with schools to close the gap between research, policy and practice on young people’s social media use, sleep and wellbeing
- Supporting evidence-based policy, lessons and dialogue
- Research partnership model, a tailored profile for schools on pupils’ social media use and sleep to support staff, parents and young people
Holly Scott, PhD Researcher – School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
12:50-13:00 Opportunities for questions and discussion
13:00 Chair’s Round-up and Closing Remarks
Venue
Hosted by
COSLA Conference Centre
Verity House
19 Haymarket Yards
Edinburgh
EH12 5BH
t: 0131 474 9200
www.cosla.gov.uk/conference_centre