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Health Promoting Schools in West Lothian - DRAFT PAGE

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A health promoting school is one in which all members of the school community work together to provide pupils with ... experiences & structures, which promote and protect their health. This includes both the formal and the informal curriculum, ... a safe and healthy school environment, & appropriate health services and the involvement of the family and wider community.

World Health Organization 1995

The National Health Promoting Schools Website

The health promoting school concept has been embedded in good practice for several years and is already in place in many schools across West Lothian. For example, the HMIE report on Armadale Academy states that:

The school had strong and effective arrangements for ensuring the care, welfare and support of pupils. Pupils were confident that pastoral support staff knew them well and would deal effectively with their concerns. The pastoral support manager and her team had developed very effective procedures to support pupils, and monitored their attendance and personal and social development carefully. The manager had introduced a range of innovative initiatives to support pupils mental health and well-being. Pupils performance and progress was monitored very closely and staff responded sensitively to any concerns. Student support staff had worked successfully to involve parents and carers, who were positive about the support the school provided. Very effective arrangements were in place to support pupils transition from P7 to S1. The school had developed good partnerships with external agencies to promote healthy lifestyles. HMIE Report on Armadale Academy Jan 2008

The next challenge for schools is the implementation of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. The Act builds on the good work already under way in schools and councils in respect of health promoting schools, Active Schools and Hungry for Success. The duty to deliver health promoting schools is now a core aspect of the Curriculum for Excellence The Act:

• places health promotion at the heart of schools' activities
• ensures that food and drink served in schools meets nutritional requirements set out by Scottish Ministers
• ensures local authorities promote the uptake and benefits of school meals and, in particular, free school meals
• reduces the stigma associated with free school meals by requiring local authorities to protect the identity of those eligible for free school meals
• gives local authorities the power to provide pupils with healthy snacks and drinks, either at a cost or free of charge
• requires local authorities to consider sustainable development guidance when they provide food or drink in schools.

The health promotion duties commenced on 3 January 2008, and the duties in respect of food and drink and sustainable procurement commence in August 2008.

West Lothian is embarking on an integrated programme of awareness raising to promote & assist the full implementation of the new legislation in every school in the authority.

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