Herefordshire children are enjoying healthier lifestyles thanks to the county's schools exceeding national healthy schools targets.
The government target is for 75 per cent of all schools to have
National Healthy School Status, and 100 per cent to be
participating in the programme by December 2009. A progress report
issued by the national team last week indicated that around 70 per
cent of Herefordshire's schools have already achieved this status
and a further 24 per cent are working towards it. This compares
with a national average of 50 per cent having achieved the status
to date
.
The Herefordshire Healthy Schools Programme is a partnership
between the Council and the Primary Care Trust, and works with all
Herefordshire schools, parents and whole school communities, to
develop a healthier living and learning environment for
children.
In particular, the programme focuses on healthy eating, personal social and health education, physical activity and emotional health and well-being. Schools that show they meet the all the criteria in these areas are awarded National Healthy School Status.
Since the programme began, Herefordshire children have benefited by getting more physically active through extended sports programmes, walking or cycling to school and a wide range of physical activities appropriate to their age and needs. They have also learned about nutrition and how improving their diets by eating and drinking better at school and home adds to feeling better and working better. Children have also learned about who is there to support them in developing positive relationships, responsible behaviour and being happy.
"This is excellent news - congratulations to our schools and the healthy schools team for achieving so much two years ahead of target," said Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people.
"The Healthy Schools Programme is at the core of everything we do and the council works closely with the police, voluntary sector and other agencies to make sure schools can access the support they need, " she continued.
"Most schools already do many of the things they need to do to achieve the status, but our healthy schools team provides additional support for those who need it. As well as helping the schools through the process of achieving the status, they offer advice on a range of issues including race equality, drug education and teenage pregnancy."
Herefordshire schools have embraced the healthy schools ethos so well that a special gold award system has been set up for children to nominate their school for being a 'healthy school and more'. Eight schools have now achieved a gold award for fully embracing the concept of healthy schools throughout the whole school community.