3. HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
WHATWE WANT TO ACHIEVE
We want our children and young people to be healthy in order to take advantage of the opportunities which education offers, and to progress to happy, healthy and productive working lives. When children and young people are fit and healthy, they are more able to concentrate, learn and do well at school. That is why we are actively committed to the development of holistic approaches to the education, health and care of Scotland's children and young people.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence is a programme of work which places outcomes for pupils at the centre of the curriculum, rather than basing the curriculum solely around subjects. It proposes that learning is about preparing young people to be successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. The aim of this work is to create a single, coherent Scottish curriculum for those from the ages of 3-18, with space for children and young people to achieve and teachers to teach. One of the elements in the curriculum is Health and Wellbeing, which includes understanding of health, physical education and physical activity, personal, emotional and social development, and contributions from home economics. Publication of the learning outcomes and experiences for this curriculum area is planned for summer 2007.
Health Promoting Schools
The World Health Organisation (1995) definition of health promoting schools:
'A health promoting school is one in which all members of the school community work together to provide children and young people with integrated and positive experiences and structures, which promote and protect their health. This includes both the formal and the informal curriculum in health, the creation of a safe and healthy school environment, the provision of appropriate health services and the involvement of the family and wider community in efforts to promote health.'
The Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit was set up in 2002 to champion, facilitate and support implementation of the health promoting school concept throughout Scotland. The Unit is promoting the whole-school approach to health promotion, ensuring not only that health education is integral to the curriculum but also that school ethos, policies, services and
extra-curricular activities foster emotional, mental, physical and social wellbeing and healthy development. The Unit's focus is on providing strategic and practical support to partner organisations, local authorities, NHS Boards, Community Planning Partnerships and other key stakeholders as they work together to achieve the National Priorities for education and health. A health promoting school is an Active School, delivering on Ministers' commitment to secure at least two hours per week of quality physical education for every child or young person in our schools.
Diet
School meals
In 2001, Scottish Ministers announced plans to improve the provision, presentation and nutritional content of school meals as part of the Executive's drive to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Scotland. The report, Hungry for Success, 9 was published in 2003 and introduced national, nutrient-defined standards for school meals in Scotland, together with a strategy for delivering the standards, improving uptake of school meals and minimising any stigma associated with taking free school meals. A whole-school approach to school meals; the strategy is based on a partnership between children and young people, school, family and the community. It aims to offer access to nutritious and attractively presented food in school, and to develop a wider understanding of food, nutrition, and healthy choices throughout life.
Guidelines to help implement the nutrient standards have been issued and local authorities, schools, suppliers, caterers and other stakeholders have responded positively to implementing them. As an additional measure the Executive has funded the provision of free fruit in school for all children in Primary 1 and 2 and is subsidising the provision of milk in schools by local authorities through the School Milk Subsidy Scheme.
The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill places a duty upon Scottish Ministers, local authorities and managers of grant-aided schools to ensure that schools are health promoting. In addition, the Bill places upon them the following duties:
- to ensure that food and drink provided meets nutritional standards;
- to promote the uptake of school meals, particularly free school meals;
- to take reasonable steps to ensure protection of identity of pupils taking free meals;
- to ensure schools are health promoting environments and include an account of this in their annual statement of improvement objectives;
- to provide free snacks as required by local need;
- to have regard to guidance issued; and
- to have regard to the extent to which independent schools meet nutritional standards.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
World Health Organisation research on mental health improvement work in schools shows that the whole-school approach works best - as part of the ethos of the school rather than isolated projects. The Executive's National Programme for Mental Health and Wellbeing10 supports this approach through funding mental health improvement work in the Health Promoting Schools Unit. In addition it is:
- funding a number of exemplar projects to promote good practice in early years;
- funding work by the Centre for Confidence and Wellbeing with Schools of Ambition; and
- seed funding and evaluating work on counselling in schools.
CASE STUDIES
DELIVERING A HEALTHIER SCOTLAND
Raigmore Primary School, Highland Council - a health promoting school
Health promotion is a way of life at Raigmore Primary School. In 2005, Primary 4 produced a DVD, 'Health Promotion: A Way of Life', which they presented at seminars across Scotland.
At Raigmore, parents, pupils and staff are consulted on lunch menus, and are given advice on healthy snacks and packed lunches. The school is proud to have its own garden where produce is grown, harvested, cooked and eaten at special lunchtimes. The tuck shop now sells only fruit, water and fruit juice and all Primary 1 and Primary 2 pupils receive free fruit 3 times a week. In addition, playground games are well resourced and structured, and the nursery has its own outdoor play area - an important addition considering that many young children live in upstairs flats. The school funds a Children's Service Worker, who supports vulnerable children and families in raising awareness of healthy choices.
The school won the Healthy Living Award at the Scottish Education Awards in 2006 and Highland Council won the Local Authority Making a Difference Award in recognition of its work in supporting all 219 schools to become Health Promoting Schools two years in advance of the national target.
Doon Academy Learning Partnership
Doon Academy Learning Partnership is participating in the Schools of Ambition programme. The Partnership consists of Doon Academy, Dalmellington Primary, Bellsbank Primary, Patna Primary, Dalrymple Primary and Littlemill Primary, working together in partnership to increase pupil motivation and enthusiasm for learning. The partners identified health inequalities within the community as a key issue to address and have had major focus on proactive health promotion. A dedicated health counsellor has been appointed and all pupils in the partnership will have enhanced access to take part in Physical Education, Dance and Drama as a result of the additional resources they receive as Schools of Ambition. Since joining the programme in 2005, improvements have been seen in attendance and levels of participation. Ultimately the aim is to improve attainment and achievement, and the aspirations of school leavers.