Warrington's schools are officially healthy!
Nearly 80% of Warrington schools have achieved the prestigious National Healthy Schools status.
An official celebration was held at the Town Hall last week to recognise the achievement, which is well ahead of government targets.
The Healthy Schools plaques were presented by the Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Graham Welborn, and the Mayoress, Cllr Elaine Welborn.
The Healthy Schools Programme is a joint initiative from the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
To achieve National Healthy Schools status, schools must meet 41 health and education requirements, promoting positive behaviour in a wide range of physical, emotional and social areas. The programme also links in with the values of the Every Child Matters initiative.
Schools across the borough have taken action to hit the mark by listening to their pupils and adding active extra-curriculum activities, developing playgrounds to promote active play, promoting and educating about healthy eating, providing areas for quiet time and nurture.
The council’s Healthy Schools Team, with Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT), offers close professional support to schools as they work towards Healthy Schools Status and beyond.
At the event, schools were also recognised for achieving Warrington’s smoke free schools award and the Tasty Tuck award for providing only sugar-free snacks to pupils.
The National Healthy Schools Programme remains a government target by December 2009; all schools should be working towards healthy school status with 75% having achieved the mark and we have already achieved it.
Cllr Sheila Woodyatt, Executive Board member for Children’s Services, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have so many schools achieving the Healthy Schools Status. It is thanks to the hard work of students, staff, governors and whole school communities that we have been able to reach such a milestone.
“Our children and young people are now reaping the benefits of being part of a Healthy School.”
Dr Rita Robertson, Director of Public Health, Warrington PCT, said: “Tackling smoking amongst young people is one of our major priorities and schools are in an ideal position to influence the health of the community.
“The Tasty Tuck scheme provides an opportunity for schools to show their commitment to ensuring children eat foods at break time which promote oral health and nutritional standards and helps them build lasting healthy attitudes to food.”
More information on the healthy schools programme is available at www.healthyschools.gov.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) is an exciting long term initiative from the Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families, which is helping children and young people in thousands of schools across England to be more healthy.
The NHSP supports the links between health, behaviour and achievement. It is about creating healthy and happy children and young people, who do better in learning and in life.
The school has Healthy School status for three years. During this time, the school is supported by the Healthy Schools Team to continue to work on a post accreditation action plan. After two years, the school needs to start the process for NHSS re-validation. The NSHP are developing a 'Healthy Schools Plus' status for schools wanted to move to outstanding practice.
Issued by: Siân Evans, Communications Officer
Date: Monday 21 July, 2008
Release: Immediate
