Sam Mellor Head of NHSP Delivery Unit Department of Health

National Healthy Schools Programme A joint Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families initiative which promotes a whole school approach to health.

Healthy Schools is about happy, healthy and safe children and young people

Happy healthy children? Despite being one of the world’s richest countries, our children and young people are not necessarily happy, safe and healthy Healthy Schools can help improve children’s lives: it addresses many of the things that affect their wellbeing

What is wellbeing? Unicef’s Child Poverty in Perspective report measures children’s well-being by looking at six things: Child poverty compared to others in their country Health and safety Relationships with family and friends Education Behaviours and risks Young people’s voice

Healthy School’s vision is healthy and happy children and young people, who do better in learning and in life Using the Healthy Schools approach, we hope to To support children and young people in developing healthy behaviours To help reduce health inequalities To help promote social inclusion To help raise the achievement of children and young people

National Healthy Schools Status A Healthy School must meet 41 minimum criteria across 4 themes Criteria supports the five ECM outcomes Four themes for a Healthy School Physical Activity Healthy Eating Emotional Health & Well Being Personal, Social and Health Education [including sex relationship education and drugs education]

Whole school approach Central to Healthy Schools Model to support change and development by involving children, staff, parents/carers, and governors Provides a solid foundation for further improvements Ensures that being a Healthy School is not superficial Ensures it is part of how the school plans, reviews, behaves and interacts with the whole school community

Healthier lifestyles in children and families Healthy Schools contributes to a number of Government’s public health programmes including child health, encouraging physical activity, reducing teenage pregnancy, reducing risky behaviour around drugs, alcohol and smoking

Presented by Michelle Smith

Encouraging healthier eating Ofsted’s Food in Schools report (Oct. 2007) looked at progress schools were making with the new food standards, and how they were helping children and their families understand healthy eating Visited 27 schools (primary, middle and secondary) across 12 local authorities 15 (56%) have National Healthy Schools Status 23 (85%) are participating in NHSP Findings will be shared with our Local Progamme Coordinators as part of our commitment to support schools and units

Ofsted’s findings: Seven key findings Found that take-up of school meals has fallen and that the reasons are complex and diverse On a positive, found that schools that had the most impact on encouraging healthy choices when they had built close partnerships with staff, children and their families, plus senior manager commitment This is the Healthy Schools approach

Ofsted’s recommendations: Nine recommendations - all achievable using the Healthy Schools approach and by working with School Food Trust Recommendations - schools should, for example: Ask children what discourages school lunch take-up and address this, and work with children to develop menus Use activities in and beyond curriculum time to reinforce messages about healthier eating, and Work closely with families to advise on healthier packed lunches

Consulting with students 2.11 Consults children/ young people about food choices throughout the school day using school councils, Healthy school task groups or other representative pupil bodies Student voice is key Act on what you are told Work together

Consulting with parents 2.4 Involves children / young people and parents/carers in guiding food policy and practice within the school, enable them to contribute to healthy eating and acts on their feedback ‘Promotion, information and encouragement’ – work closely & sensitively Act on what you are told Work together

Healthier eating for life Healthy schools approach to healthy eating works alongside other programmes including School Fruit and Veg Scheme This is part of the ‘5-a-Day’ programme to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables eaten by children All 4-6 year olds entitled to one free piece of fruit or vegetables each school day

Children’s sedentary lifestyles are potentially storing up health problems for their adult life Govt. PSA target on child health aims to help children develop healthier lifestyles Two key themes Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Calories in calories out Nutrition (calories in) Energy dense foods Changing food marketing Less food prepared in the home Poor eating patterns Larger portion sizes Less breastfeeding Physical activity (calories out) Convenient lifestyles Rise in sedentary pastimes Less unsupervised outdoor play More car journeys, especially to and from school

Evidence from Healthy Schools  In a recent evaluation of a local Healthy Schools programme, they have seen an increase of positive behaviour towards healthy eating choices  87% of their schools felt they had witnessed healthier eating and drinking habits in pupils A Healthy School can change behaviour

Example from Ofsted report  In five of the primary schools, where the curriculum was particularly good, improvements had been driven by work conducted in relation to the National Healthy Schools Programme …[..].. Good links were made across subjects …. Use of common terminology ….pupils understood how work in one subject on healthy eating related to work in another

Next steps on healthy eating Mapped national initiatives and resources against our Healthy Eating criteria – available soon Healthy Eating guidance is being written and will be available in January 2008 Guidance will take in account Ofsted’s recommendations We are listening to children and young people, at central and local levels We will continue to work with School Food Trust and other agencies

Thank you

Healthy Schools We support delivery of key education policies/programmes: Every Child Matters (supports five outcomes) School Improvement Social and Emotional Aspects to Learning (SEAL) Extended Schools Sustainable Schools Ofsted Local Area Agreements Single Plan Annex

Improving children’s lives DH commissioned 3-year study, tracking schools that have recently joined the National Healthy Schools Programme Schools tell us about Healthy Schools in practice: Whole School Approach can bring about sustained school improvement More effective liaison between home and school, and external agencies Schools involved improve faster in terms of achievement in national tests and healthy lifestyles than other schools Students in Healthy Schools report a range of positive behaviours e.g. diminished fear of bullying to reduced likelihood of using drugs

Recent developments 2007 launched website, National Audit and self-validation Seven authorities granted Beacon status for excellence and innovation in delivering Healthy Schools Strong local partnerships in action across England Investigating shape of Healthy Schools Plus Exploring extending Healthy Schools approach into Further Education Increasingly schools and authorities are mainstreaming Healthy Schools

Our 2009 targets National targets By 2009, 75% schools in England will have achieved National Healthy School Status By 2009, 100% schools in England will be engaged and participating in the programme How are we doing? (Sept. 2007) 49% schools in England are Healthy Schools 91% schools in England are participating in the programme If you’re one of the few schools not involved, Go on, do it today!

Thank you

W : healthyschools.gov.uk