The Newham Healthy Schools Scheme (Newham HSS) aims to support the achievement and well being of all Newham primary and secondary school children through meeting the requirements and guidance of the National Healthy School Standard (the National Standard).

It does this by

• Working strategically with local health and education partners
• Working with schools to ensure that the local Healthy Schools Scheme meets their needs and coincides with school processes
• Improving the quality of delivery in schools through joined up approaches
• Recognising and supporting the work of local agencies that work in schools
• Providing a framework for schools to be accredited in accordance with the National Standard
• Ensuring the scheme is well managed and supported

Background

The Newham HSS was formally launched in April 2000 as part of the East London Healthy School Partnership. Since 1999 the scheme has been supported nationally through Standards Fund (Health & Education Partnerships) and locally through the Newham Primary Care Trust. Both these funding sources are confirmed until March 2006. The Newham HSS has also had funding over the past few years from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) which has allowed schools and agencies to develop innovative projects and further develop the local scheme.

Developments in the National Standard since its launch in 2000 have been reflected in the Newham HSS which has undergone significant changes in relation to:

• the numbers of schools recruited
• the processes for working with schools and agencies
• its relationship with the LEA, health and voluntary sector agencies.

Meeting the National Healthy School Standard

The Newham HSS was nationally accredited in November 2002 for its work as a local partnership. Through accreditation the Newham HSS provided evidence to show how it meets the three key elements of the National Standard:

• working in partnership – with health, education and voluntary agencies at the strategic and operational level; as well as with school managers, governors, teachers and pupils
• managing the scheme – to ensure there are systems and process in place to involve and support schools and agencies to plan and deliver and evaluate healthy school activities
• working with schools: to offer challenge and support whilst contributing to education and health improvement

The Newham HSS Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the National Standard is maintained whilst the scheme continues to develop in line with national guidelines and local priorities for health and educational improvement.

Healthy Schools and School Improvement

The National Healthy School Standard is not simply another strategy. Rather, it offers an overarching framework to support schools in many of the things they are already doing. For example - the Whole School Approach – a concept that is central to the National Standard (see below) - dovetails clearly with elements of the Primary, Key Stage 3, Behaviour and Workforce Remodelling strategies.

Between 1999 and 2003 over 50% of Newham schools have been working towards becoming a Healthy School and are starting to recognise some of the potential benefits of involvement in the scheme including:

• contributing towards raising pupil achievement
• improved pupil involvement and participation
• support for the delivery of the PSHE and Citizenship curriculum
• contributing towards enhancing the health and well-being of pupils, staff and the wider community
• access to training and resources for teachers continuing professional development (CPD)
• a strategic framework to plan and deliver the most effective course of action to address local and government education and health priorities
• demonstrating to Ofsted a systematic and constructive approach towards supporting pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development

Becoming involved in the Newham HSS

In addition to recruiting more schools into the scheme the Newham HSS will now be offering schools the opportunity to become formally accredited. The National Standard is designed to give as much support as possible for schools to create an enjoyable, safe, productive learning environment and to minimise potential health risks. This means specific work on issues like drug use, sex and relationship education and healthy eating as well as strengthening an overall awareness of pupils’ and staff’s social and emotional well-being. To gain accreditation, schools will need to provide evidence of good quality planning, delivery and evaluation of a range of health related themes through a whole-school approach. These are explained briefly below and in more detail in sections.

The Healthy School Themes

Within the National Standard there are 10 key health related themes that need to be addressed within the formal and informal curriculum. To achieve accreditation schools must reach the agreed standard in at least the first five on the list.

• Personal Social Health Education (PSHE)
• Citizenship
• Drug Education
• Sex & Relationship Education
• Healthy Eating
• Emotional Health and Well being
• Physical activity
• Safety

The Whole School Approach

Healthy School activities are intended to be holistic – embraced and emphasised across every curriculum area and activity backed by all the school community: pupils, parents, staff, governors and external partners. Implementing the above Healthy School themes using this approach helps to maximise the impact of Healthy Schools activities and support School Improvement. To gain accreditation schools will need to show evidence of their commitment and progress in addressing the following key components of the whole-school approach:

• Leadership, management, and managing change
• Policy development
• Curriculum planning and resourcing
• Learning and teaching
• School culture
• Environment
• Giving pupils a voice
• Provision of pupil support services
• Staff professional development needs, health and welfare
• Partnerships with parents/carers and local communities
• Assessing, recording and reporting pupils’ achievements