BrightSPARC
Wellbeing Framework

The BrightSPARC Wellbeing Framework supports schools to create purposeful wellbeing spaces where students can connect, reflect and make positive choices.

At its core, BrightSPARC recognises that wellbeing develops through both explicit skill development and opportunities to practise those skills in real contexts. Students are supported to build key skills linked to three drivers of wellbeing - connection, reflection, and autonomy - while also having the time and space for these to grow naturally through experience.

BrightSPARC is aimed at children and young people up to the age of 25 in schools, colleges and other educational or youth settings; built around a simple model of student leadership and facilitation, supported by staff. It is driven by BrightSPARC Makers who receive training to effectively facilitate the BrightSPARC Space, used by students to engage in skill development through spaces that encourage play, curiosity and creativity which improves wellbeing under the guidance of a BrightSPARC trained Mentor.

Many students can explain what supports wellbeing, but far fewer are regularly given the time, space, and opportunity to practise the skills that support their growth.

This approach ensures environments are created where wellbeing is experienced, developed, and strengthened over time. This helps students build positive relationships, develop emotional awareness and grow in confidence. It supports them to recognise their own thoughts and feelings, understand others, solve problems and make positive choices.

What makes BrightSPARC unique is the way it combines structure with flexibility. It gives students opportunities to take part in ways that feel natural, creative and accessible, while helping schools and settings capture the wider benefits for wellbeing, belonging, behaviour, confidence and engagement.

Students take part in activities, notice what is happening in themselves and others, and begin to understand and apply what they have learned over time.

Over time, the values and approaches developed within these spaces can be embedded more widely across school life, shaping culture, relationships, and everyday interactions.

"Play is not a luxury. It is essential to learning, wellbeing, development and belonging"
- The Play Commission Report, June 2025

The Play Commission report makes clear that children need more protected time, space, and permission to play - because play is essential for wellbeing, development, and resilience.

Play is at the heart of the BrightSPARC Wellbeing Framework, allowing open-ended exploration, imagination, and self-direction, with freedom to be creative and follow curiosity.

BrightSPARC Maker Wellbeing Training

BrightSPARC Maker Wellbeing Training helps schools build a positive culture of wellbeing, connection, and peer support. At a time when many students benefit from stronger opportunities to talk, reflect, and support one another, the BrightSPARC Framework gives schools a practical way to develop these skills across the whole school community.

BrightSPARC follows a simple, connected model. Our training equips students and staff to confidently understand and use this in practice:

Drivers - the core processes that improve wellbeing: ARC skills - Autonomy, Reflection and Connection. These skills are applied in the BrightSPARC Space and across everyday school life.

Enablers - the conditions that allow the drivers to grow: play, curiosity, and creativity.

Markers - observable signs that students are developing and using their ARC skills.

The outcomes we aim to see are improved wellbeing across all areas of life. Students are supported to move through a clear process themselves and to confidently facilitate this for others:

This ensures wellbeing is not just discussed, but experienced, understood, and sustained over time.

What Makes BrightSPARC Effective

BrightSPARC is:

structured but flexible - easy to adapt to different settings
pupil-led - building leadership and ownership
experience-based - focusing on what students do, not just what they know
play-based - promoting exploration, creativity and active learning

All training includes:

practical resources and session materials
guidance to support implementation
ongoing development and support to embed the approach over time

BrightSPARC Maker Training was

“Creative, Helpful and Encouraging"

Anderton Park Primary School

Year 5 Student

BrightSPARC Training Structure

BrightSPARC complements existing wellbeing, pastoral, PSHE and trauma-informed provision and is not intended to replace existing programmes. The Framework includes implementation resources and ongoing support, helping settings understand and evaluate impact over time.

The training for this framework is delivered as the following:

A 90-minute virtual adult/BrightSPARC Mentor preparation session (attendance by a member of SLT where possible)
A full-day BrightSPARC Maker training delivered on site by Brightcore (6 hours, including lunch and breaks)
Resources and ongoing implementation support

This training helps create a sustainable, student-led framework to wellbeing.

This is delivered by Brightcore Consultancy online.

This training supports staff to implement, lead, and sustain the BrightSPARC approach within their school.

Staff are introduced to the BrightSPARC model and supported to:

Understand how wellbeing develops through connection, reflection, and autonomy
Create and oversee an effective BrightSPARC Space
Develop a plan to apply key principles across the whole school
Support BrightSPARC Makers within their setting
Adapt the approach to meet the needs of their setting
Receive ongoing support in developing a positive wellbeing culture
Identify a clear starting point for understanding and measuring wellbeing

This is be delivered by a Brightcore facilitator on site.

This training equips students to become BrightSPARC Makers - student leaders who create and facilitate wellbeing spaces for their peers within the BrightSPARC Space.

Through practical, interactive training, pupils:

Learn the BrightSPARC approach and their role in enabling wellbeing
Develop key skills linked to connection, reflection, and autonomy to support improved wellbeing
Practise how to create safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces
Develop skills to improve their own wellbeing
Have the opportunity to develop leadership skills
Build confidence in supporting others through listening, prompts, and choice

They are introduced to a simple session structure:

Check-in (build connection)
Skills focus (develop key skills)
BrightSPARC space (play, curiosity, creativity in action)
Check-out (help others catch and hold learning)

Following training, BrightSPARC Makers are able to:

Facilitate a BrightSPARC Space during social times or targeted sessions
Support other students who may find unstructured times challenging
Share key principles across the school and promote wellbeing
Contribute to a positive, inclusive school environment

Each student receives a training booklet and practical resources to support them in applying and revisiting their learning.

BrightSPARC Makers are facilitators, not counsellors. They create welcoming activities, encourage participation and model the ARC skills.

Any concerns are shared with the BrightSPARC Mentor or another appropriate adult.

BrightSPARC is ready to work in your setting

The BrightSPARC Framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable, supporting schools to embed wellbeing in a way that is both practical and sustainable.

If you would like to discuss more bespoke training options, or to find out more about how BrightSPARC training could work in your setting, please get in touch.

Discuss BrightSPARC for your setting

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BrightSPARC Wellbeing Framework

"Play is not a luxury. It is essential to learning, wellbeing, development and belonging" - The Play Commission Report, June 2025

BrightSPARC Maker Wellbeing Training

What Makes BrightSPARC Effective

BrightSPARC Training Structure

This is delivered by Brightcore Consultancy online.

​

This training supports staff to implement, lead, and sustain the BrightSPARC approach within their school.

​

Staff are introduced to the BrightSPARC model and supported to:

Understand how wellbeing develops through connection, reflection, and autonomy

Create and oversee an effective BrightSPARC Space

Develop a plan to apply key principles across the whole school

Support BrightSPARC Makers within their setting

Adapt the approach to meet the needs of their setting

Receive ongoing support in developing a positive wellbeing culture

Identify a clear starting point for understanding and measuring wellbeing​

​​

This is be delivered by a Brightcore facilitator on site.

​

This training equips students to become BrightSPARC Makers - student leaders who create and facilitate wellbeing spaces for their peers within the BrightSPARC Space.

​

Through practical, interactive training, pupils:

Learn the BrightSPARC approach and their role in enabling wellbeing

Develop key skills linked to connection, reflection, and autonomy to support improved wellbeing

Practise how to create safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces

Develop skills to improve their own wellbeing

Have the opportunity to develop leadership skills

Build confidence in supporting others through listening, prompts, and choice

​​

They are introduced to a simple session structure:

Check-in (build connection)

Skills focus (develop key skills)

BrightSPARC space (play, curiosity, creativity in action)

Check-out (help others catch and hold learning)

​​

Following training, BrightSPARC Makers are able to:

Facilitate a BrightSPARC Space during social times or targeted sessions

Support other students who may find unstructured times challenging

Share key principles across the school and promote wellbeing

Contribute to a positive, inclusive school environment

​​