TheNational Healthy School

Standard

Ruth Heatherley

National Adviser, Schools and Young People’s Health

National Healthy School Standard

• What is the NHSS?

• What are its aims?

• What is its impact?

National Healthy School Standard

The National Healthy School Standard is…..

….a national guidance framework for local education and health partnerships. Local partnerships develop healthy schools programmes which provide support to schools in the process of becoming healthier.

National Healthy School Standard

Policy Context

• DfEE (1997) – Excellence in Schools

• Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (1998)

• DH (1999) Saving Lives Our Healthier Nation

• National Curriculum – PSHE and Citizenship

• Emphasis on partnership working and collaboration

National Healthy School Standard

What is a healthy school?'A healthy school is one that is successful in helping pupils

to do their best and build on their achievements.

It is committed to on-going improvement and development.

It provides physical and emotional health by providing accessible and relevant information and equipping pupils with the skills and

attitudes to make informed decisions about their health.

A healthy school understands the importance of investing in health to assist in the process of raising levels of pupil

achievement and improving standards. It also recognises the need to provide both a physical and social environment that is

conducive to learning’

National Healthy School Standard

Guidance Framework

3 Sections:•Partnerships•Management of Programme•Working with schools

Accompanying Guidance•whole school approach•specific themes

National Healthy School Standard

Strategic Aims

To contribute to…….

• the reduction of health inequalities

• the promotion of social inclusion

• the raising of pupil achievement

National Healthy School Standard

Phase 1

•All education and health partnerships (n=150) nationally accredited by March 2002

• The majority of schools involved in a local programme by March 2002

•14000 schools adopting NHSS principles and practices

•8000 involved at level 3 (intensive level)

National Healthy School Standard

Phase 2 - three year national target

• To ensure that all schools in England with 20% + FSME achieve National Healthy School Standard level three status by March 2006 (n=7500), whilst retaining the universality of the programme

• Currently 2,500 target schools at level 3

The NHSS offers support for schools on

• PSHE• Citizenship• Sex and Relationships Education• Drug Education including alcohol and tobacco• Physical activity• Healthy eating• Safety• Emotional health and well-being including bullying• Local and school led priorities

Whole School Approach

a. Leadership, management and managing change

b. Policy development

c. Curriculum planning and resourcing

d. Teaching and learning

e. School culture and environment

f. Giving pupils a voice

g. Provision of pupils’ support services

h. Staff professional development needs, health and welfare

i. Partnerships with parents/carers and local communities

j. Assessing, recording and reporting pupils’ achievement

Examples of activities

• Improving sex and drugs education provision

• Reducing levels of bullying

• Developing pupil support

• Using peer-led approaches to learning

• Working with parents and local communities

• Focusing on staff health needs

• Improving school environment

• Increasing levels of pupil participation

National Healthy School Standard

Why are schools engaged?• Contribution to school improvement and social

inclusion• Supported self-review process• Staff professional development• Involvement of whole school community• Effective use of resources• Opportunities to work with schools• Joins up priorities• Evidence from ofsted

Evidence of a Healthy School

Criteria for Level 3 involvement includes

• Social inclusion and health inequalities inform the development and implementation of activities

• Pupils’ views are reflected in school activities, including those with special educational needs and specific health conditions, as well as disaffected pupils, young carers and teenage parents

Evidence of a healthy school cont…

• The school is delivering the requirements of the national curriculum particularly in relation to sex and relationship education and drug education, including alcohol and tobacco, in line with statutory requirements, non-statutory guidance and the NHSS criteria.

Evidence of a healthy school cont…

• The school provides a culture and environment to support the taught PSHE and citizenship curriculum

• The whole school community (pupils, staff, parents, governors and community partners) is invited to take part in policy development, physical, social and cultural activity and support each other’s learning

Evidence of a healthy school cont…

• In line with the DfES Continuing Professional Development Strategy (CPD), the impact of CPD o the success of healthy school’s activities is regularly being evaluated and informing the development of the healthy schools programme

National Healthy School StandardNational

• Support visits; CPD; performance management; communications strategy; supportive national and regional infrastructure

Regional

• Joining up strategically and building capacity

Local

• Maintaining partnership between education and health; differentiating support targeting schools with 20% + FSME; taking up CPD; evidencing impact

Schools

• Embed healthy schools in School Development Plan; set targets, develop action plan to assess, record and report on impact

National Healthy School Standard

Current priorities• Comprehensive CPD programme• Online case study database• National evaluation• Research into NHSS and school improvement,

pupil participation