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Schools from across North Somerset will be
attending an awards ceremony in recognition of their fantastic
efforts to make their schools healthier.
On Monday 7 July at the Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, 19
schools will receive 'National Healthy School Status'. This
accolade is achieved when schools are able to demonstrate good
practice in the four areas of personal, social and health
education; healthy eating; physical activity; and emotional health
and wellbeing.
This year, schools have encouraged healthy eating in many ways.
At Wrington C of E Primary there was a competition to design
healthy lunchbox leaflets while Birdwell Primary had a competition
for the healthiest lunchbox. Over at Churchill C of E Primary, the
children ran a healthy schools café, while All Saints have made
lunchtimes a bit more special by buying picnic blankets for
alfresco dining! Many schools have increased the amount of time
children spend cooking and at Wraxall C of E Primary soup was made
from vegetables grown at the school.
Many schools have introduced 'Young Leaders' in the playground
to organize games with younger pupils and in case of playground
accidents, Mead Vale Primary have some trained Year 6 first aiders!
Physical activity has been encouraged in many innovative ways; one
school has their own dog to give the children exercise and others
offer badges to children who walk to school on Wednesdays.
The schools who are being awarded 'National Healthy Schools
Status' this year have worked hard to involve children and young
people more. At Flax Bourton C of E Primary the school council has
its own budget and at Sandford C of E Primary every child is in the
school council! Children have been actively involved in many
decisions including refurbishments to the school toilets, the
provision of a playground clock and more equipment in the
playground.
Healthy Schools Coordinator, Shaun Cheesman, from North Somerset
Primary Care Trust, said: "It has been a pleasure for all members
of the Healthy Schools Team to work with such hard working and
dedicated schools."
Executive member for children and young people, Cllr Jeremy
Blatchford, said: "These awards show the commitment and care of
North Somerset schools for our children and the range of the
wonderful work which is happening to make our children even happier
and healthier."
Schools receiving the award are:
St Martins Primary
Burrington
Dundry C of E Primary
St Georges Church Primary
St Mark's C of E/Methodist Primary
All Saints Primary, east Clevedon
Birdwell Primary
Christ church C of E Primary
Churchill C of E Primary
Court De Wyck C of E Primary
Flax Bourton C of E Primary
Kingshill C of E Primary
Locking Primary
Milton Park Primary
Northleaze C of E Primary
Sandford Primary
St Barnabas C of E Primary
Wraxall C of E Primary
Wrington C of E Primary
There will be displays on show by the schools and there will be
a yoga demonstration from pupils at St Mark's School.
The National Healthy Schools programme promotes a whole school
approach to health. The programme is a joint initiative between the
Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and
Families, which has been running since 1999. It aims to deliver
benefits in the following areas: improvement in health and reduced
health inequalities; raised pupil achievement; more social
inclusion; and closer working between health promotion providers
and education establishments. |