Healthy Schools
National changes
With the formation of the new government, changes have been made to the organisation of the National Healthy Schools Programme. Although Healthy Schools is no longer considered a priority, its importance to schools has been acknowledged and it is therefore not completely abolished.
Schools that previously achieved status may still call themselves Healthy Schools and can still display the award and logo in school premises and on school documents. However schools that did not achieve status will not now be able to apply for status, but can work towards behaviour outcomes and thereby gain recognition for measurable impacts on behaviour.
Continuing and Enhancing Healthy Schools
1. Local Programme
Between 2009 and the present day, Dorset, (coordinated by NHS Dorset) has engaged 84 schools in the South West Healthy Schools Plus programme. This targeted certain schools and supported them with healthier behaviour outcomes and with measuring behaviour change. Under identified local priorities, schools set outcomes including Healthy Weight, Sex and Relationship Education, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, and Substance Misuse.
Since March 2011, when changes in the National Programme were implemented, Dorset has strived to continue its support to schools with local health priorities and with setting behaviour change outcomes for pupils in all Dorset schools. Though no longer a Local Authority priority, NHS Dorset has continued to host the programme, working in partnership with colleagues in Dorset County Council and from supporting service providers.
Dorset Healthy Schools Plus continues in the South West Healthy Schools Plus format, identifying Risky Behaviours (Sex and Relationships, Substance Misuse and Emotional Health and Wellbeing) and Healthy Living (Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Dental Health, Sun Safety and Emotional Health and Wellbeing) as priorities and supporting schools in:
- Identifying local priorities by looking at local health data
- Selecting appropriate outcomes for developing behaviour change
- Improving health and wellbeing for vulnerable groups
- Providing opportunities for children and young people and their families to engage in healthier behaviours
2. National toolkits
The now National programme is available to schools on the Department for Education website and provides planning tools for schools to download and use, monitor and recognise within individual school settings, though there is no longer any national, regional or local monitoring or support for these toolkits.
3. Schools4Life
A new Social Enterprise is available, continuing in the Enhancement Model (South West Healthy Schools Plus) format. Schools4Life can provide a National website with information for schools which are able to register. After purchasing the planning tools hosted on the site, schools are able to complete them and share them on the site. However, as with the National Toolkits no support or monitoring is available, either regionally or locally.
