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Healthy Schools in Waltham Forest
The National Healthy Schools Programme in Waltham Forest
Challenging national targets for participation and achievement in the National Healthy Schools Programme have been set, and Waltham Forest is currently meeting these. Over 90% of schools in England are already taking part in their local programme – in Waltham Forest all of our schools are participating, with 67% having achieved Healthy School status* Why not join them?
From September 2005, Ofsted expects schools to demonstrate how they are contributing to the five national outcomes for children of the Every Child Matters report:
- Be healthy;
- Stay safe;
- Enjoy and achieve;
- Make a positive contribution;
- Achieve economic well-being.
The criteria schools need to fulfil to achieve National Healthy School status provide rigorous evidence that a school is contributing to these five outcomes. Achieving National Healthy School status will also provide evidence for school self-evaluation (each criterion is linked to the SEF).
Making your school a Healthy School
Schools need to meet agreed criteria in four theme areas:
- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), including Sex & Relationship Education and Drug Education (including alcohol, tobacco and volatile substance abuse);
- Healthy eating;
- Physical activity;
- Emotional health and well-being (including bullying).
These criteria relate to the taught curriculum but they also concern the emotional, physical and learning environment that the school provides. Schools are encouraged to actively involve the whole school community – pupils, parents/carers, staff and governors. It is an effective school improvement mechanism that can bring about and embed cultural change.
The National Healthy Schools Programme can support your school to audit its provision relating to the above themes, agree priorities and an action plan, and involve health and other professionals to help you deliver on targets.
You can find out more about the programme on www.healthyschools.gov.uk, or by contacting the Change for Children Team 0845 877 0032.
* National Healthy Schools Database, 31 January 2009
