2. What do we want to let the Scottish Government know?
There is a gap between primary and secondary schools in relation to wellbeing
Need to focus on wellbeing not attainment
Poverty is political – we can mitigate the effects of poverty but we need to redistribute resources
Don’t pathologise by focusing on ACEs – sort the structural issues
We need holistic ‘joined-up’ thinking – communities, families and schools
Looking beyond literacy and numeracy to raise attainment
Be better at listening
Consider how we assess schools – it’s not all about attainment

3. Main message
Children and Young People having a sense of belonging is key
Positive relationships and a sense of agency will benefit all young people
Inequality is a human rights issue
The need to act and to be ‘fierce champions’ for CYP
Happiness, care, understanding – but acknowledge there is already a lot of positive work going on in schools
The ‘small stuff’ really matters

4. Change in practice Listen more to young people
Add ‘sense of belonging’ to organization’s aims
Think about language
Challenge structural inequality but focus on smiles, kindness, care and love – no resource required
Keep making connections in practice and read more, make the connections in research

5. 3 of the Keynote speakers asked us to close our eyes and think about…
Belonging
Transition
Care
By getting in touch with what these mean to us can we start to get a better idea about what they mean for young people?

6. What we all have in common
As professionals, policy-makers, academics how can we hold on to that memory of our younger selves and allow it to surface and shape our work?
Do we over-complicate and create distance in attempts to be ‘professional’ or ‘objective’?
How important is it that as adults we have a sense of belonging in our workplace?