NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council are launching a programme to
improve the dental health of local children. The Give Me a Smile programme, which aims to make tooth brushing at school a part of the daily routine and help children to grow up with a healthy smile, will be launched at Ledbury Primary School and Childrens Centre on 4 March. It will then be rolled out to other schools and nurseries around the county. The dental health of children in Herefordshire compares poorly to rest of the country. Yet dental decay, the most common dental disease in children, is largely preventable. Brushing childrens teeth twice a day with a family fluoride toothpaste and cutting down on sugary food and drink are important steps that parents and carers can take to protect their childrens teeth from decay. The Give Me a Smile programme will involve nursery and reception aged children brushing their teeth at school as part of the school routine. Children will also get top tips on brushing their teeth properly and lessons on the importance of keeping mouths, teeth and gums healthy. A toothbrush bus (a storage unit for the childrens toothbrushes) will be wheeled out each day so that the children can take part in daily, supervised tooth brushing sessions.

The director of children's services is asking schools to get involved in events organised for this year's Internet Safety Week (9 February)

Links:
http://www.cs.herefordshire.gov.uk/SOL/Internet_safety_week.doc.dot

If you are interested in accessing an inclusive programme of peer massage for your class or school, please contact Annie Finch or Di Budge on 01432 260873 to discuss further.

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
untitled (.pdf 401.3 kb)

 

The new Healthy Schools Enhancement model is being launched locally in Herefordshire on 4th December.

See events page for further details and how to book.

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
untitled (.doc 29.5 kb)

 

We have 3 new members of staff in the Healthy Schools team. They are:

Sandie Leask - Drug Education Officer
Eleanor Kercher - Children's Services Equalities Officer
Emily Rowntree - Healthy Schools Administrator

Please feel free to contact them with your quries and they will be pleased to help you.

Our new Parents Page is now 'live'. Here we will have up to date tips and advice for parents, from parents. Also there will be a list of helpful resources and websites etc for parents' information.

Action to be taken if you have a suspected case of swine flu in school.
Download the letter from Sharon Menghini providing guidance for schools.

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
untitled (.pdf 767.5 kb)

 

This month, the National Healthy Schools Programme hit its 75% target for schools achieving National Healthy Schools Status ahead of the target date which was December 2009.

Attached is a letter from Will Cavendish, Director of Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health, congratulating all local programmes for their efforts and achievements.

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
untitled (.doc 34.5 kb)

 

The new rules for food in school will ensure that:

School lunches are free from low quality meat products, fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate or other confectionery

High quality meat, poultry or oily fish is available on a regular basis

Pupils are served a minimum of two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal

Any deep-fried items are restricted to no more than two portions in a week.

For further information follow the attaached link.

Links:
http://www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=116

Change4Life is a lifestyle revolution involving thousands of local organisations and charities which will help mums, dads, and families eat well, move more, live longer. Change4Life aims to improve childrens diets and levels of activity, helping them develop healthier lifestyles and reduce the threat to their future health. Look out for healthy food promotions and recipes in supermarkets, walking campaigns, cycling groups etc. Check out their website for top tips, and register for your free welcome pack, or call 0300 123 4567.

Links:
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life

There has been fantastic progress on the Million Meals Campaign in the region with over 400 schools now signed up.

Million Meals aims to have a million more children eating a school meal by 2010. Pendock Primary in Worcestershire was the 400th school to register and a celebration event was held where all children received a free meal and £400 was given to the school to support improvements to the dining room environment.

To register your school visit the School Food Trust website and follow the link.

Links:
http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/index.asp

Think Food and Farming is the exciting legacy project building on the successes of the Year of Food and FArming. It will promote healthy living by offering children and young people direct experience of the countryside, farming and food through growing and cooking activities, and visits to farms.

Links:
http://thinkfoodandfarming.org.uk

As part of the GetReal campaign, the School Food Trust has teamed up with the UN World Food Programme on The Really Good School Dinner initiative, which is designed to demonstrate the value of a school meal, not only in this country but in parts of the developing world.

During the last week of January 2009, pupils of all ages are being asked to have a school dinner and donate an extra 10p. All the money raised will be used by the UN World Food Programme to provide children in countries including Kenya, Cambodia and Guatemala with a school meal, often their only meal of the day.

The campaign will also help provide an education for many as evidence shows that many children, especially girls, are kept home if they are not being fed at school.

All Schools, school councils, local authorities and caterers are being contacted and asked to get on board and make this initiative the success it deserves to be.

Click on the link below to register your school and receive a campaign pack which contains posters, bucket wraps and information to help school councils promote The Really Good School Dinner to their fellow pupils.

Links:
http://www.getreal.uk.com/really-good-school-dinner

1st July saw the annual Healthy Schools celebration event take place at Broadfield Court, Bodenham. Amongst the beautiful surroundings, hidden away in our special Herefordshire countryside, representatives from 10 schools attended to receive their awards. Ekow Armah, from the National Healthy Schools Team, travelled from London to present them with their trophies representing a culmination of hard work and enthusiasm to achieve National Healthy Schools Status.

Also present were Chloe Evans, Headteacher from Pencombe Primary and Mandy James and Maggie Newton from Marden Primary. Young people from their schools have taken the next step to achieve 'Gold' status. This process involves the young people submitting an application in any format to provide evidence that their school is a Healthy school and more. Students from both schools have also applied to be Gold Ambassadors for Healthy Schools. In fact, Pencombe students have already been inaugurated and started working! They visited Whitbourne recently to spread the word and enthused their school council to Go for Gold. Megan Bunclark and Marcus Hale from Marden attended with their parents to be inaugurated as Ambassadors at the celebration event.

Healthy Schools now also has a special addition in the form of Pat Owen, formerly of Westfield School. She has agreed to be our Goodwill Ambassador and we are very pleased to have her support.

A very pleasant evening was had by all, despite an impromptu downpour, and this was followed by a delicious strawberry tea.

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
'In the Garden!' (.jpg 36.9 kb)
Marden, Ekow, Mandy, Megan and Marcus (.jpg 24.4 kb)
'On the stairs!' (.jpg 1.1 MB)

 

School Spring Garden for £49 (Autumn Garden currently being developed for the same cost!)

This garden is designed to be easily planted and harvested within school term times.

It is delivered from late April onwards and contains a selection of the following baby plants:

• Mixture of lettuces x 30
• Dwarf French green beans x 10
• Runner beans x 10
• Beetroot x 10
• Spinach x 10
• Cauliflower x 10
• Cabbage selection x 10
• Courgettes x 4
• Leeks x 20
• Carrots x 20
• Tomatoes x 6
• Strawberries x 6
• Seed potatoes x 10

Links:
Rocket Gardens website

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
Spring garden school pack (.jpg 11.3 kb)
Rocket garden - get planting! (.jpg 47.7 kb)

 

Million Meals - fantastic section of the School Food Trust website to support schools with the compulsory standards regarding all aspects of school food.

"A revolution is underway in school food. Since September 2006, every pupil taking a school lunch is guaranteed, by law, a balanced, nutritious meal.

We now need to make sure they are eating them and the 'Million Meals' campaign aims to do just that.

If you represent a school, talk to your head teacher and sign up today using your school's URN number.

In return you will get access to a panel of experts and champions who will be able to give insights into how they have transformed their meal service and answer any queries schools may have. There is also a dedicated section of this website containing case studies, films, details of visits to members' schools and a host of other resources. The most successful approaches will be recognised in our Roll of Honour scheme."

Lots of other useful links below to support your school in meeting the food standards in imaginative and fun ways.

Links:
School Food Trust
Food for life Partnership
Food - a fact of life
I'm in season
Million Meals

Links:
School Food Trust (SFT)homepage
School Food Trust document downloads
British Nutrition Foundation (BNF)
Teen Weight Wise (British Dietetic Association)
School Food Trust resouces

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
BNF Packed lunch leaflet (.pdf 225.1 kb)
BNF poster (.pdf 277.4 kb)
Teen packed lunch leaflet (.pdf 1.3 MB)
Example of a packed lunch policy (.doc 52.5 kb)

 

Local mother of two and author, Joanne Roach, has produced a series of books that are to be given free to all 3, 4 and 5 year old children in Herefordshire. The 12 Foodies books are colourful, fun and each one tells a story about a fruit or vegetable of the month. They are grouped into seasons and contain a story, factual information, recipes, activities and links and encourage children to think about the particular fruit or veg and associate it with its 'season' in the garden.

Joanne has worked in partnership with Orleton school and Herefordshire Healthy Schools Partnership to produce this fabulous resource.

For more information and to see the book of the month, visit www.thefoodiesbooks.com

Links:
Foodies books website

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
Background (.pdf 200.7 kb)
Research (.pdf 132.6 kb)

 

The first in a series of 'Fresh look' booklets from the School Food Trust to support schools with the new food standards in school is now available.

'Making the food we provide in school healthier is only half the battle. Young people have to want to eat it. If you have a pleasant and happy environment, people will want to eat there. The School Food Trust has created this booklet to help overcome issues your school may face when trying to improve the experience children and young people have during their lunchtime.'

A fresh look at the school meal experience looks at how schools can make improvements to the look and feel of their dining hall, manage lunch times effectively, reduce queuing and improve behaviour.

Links:
School Food Trust website

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
Fresh look at the school meal experience booklet (.pdf 885.8 kb)

 

COMPULSORY STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL FOOD

In May 2006, the Government announced new standards for school food. There were three parts to be phased in by September 2009. Interim food standards for schools lunches should have been in all schools by September 2006 and the second step including all school food other than lunch should have been in place as of September 2007. The final stage is to introduce nutrient based standards in primaries and secondaries by September 2008 and September 2009 respectively.

The responsibility for implementing the new changes lies with Local Authorities or schools themselves depending where the budget for school food is placed and has huge implications on tuck shops, after school clubs, vending, break snacks etc - all food provided in school.

New guidelines have been published and the latest information is on the School Food Trust website - links below. The Healthy Schools Team work closely with the local Community Dietitian and also have access to people who can support schools with policy, parents, children or can give support and advice on implementing the new standards.

For more information, support or advice, contact us.

Links:
School Food Trust website
Fruits and veggies matter
Food standards agency
British Nutrition Foundation

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
REVISED school lunch standards (.pdf 892.0 kb)
School food other than lunch standards (.pdf 1.1 MB)
Guide for parents (.pdf 1.5 MB)
Useful newsletter (Food - a fact of life) (.doc 31.5 kb)
School based food initiatives (to be updated soon) (.pdf 984.5 kb)

 

OUR NEW RESOURCE ROOM IS NOW OPEN AND READY FOR USE

Our new accommodation in Berrows House on Bath Street has allowed us to develop a dedicated resource room for use by teachers and colleagues with whom we work.

If you would value a quiet, well resourced 'space' with the Healthy Schools Team on hand if needed, to research, plan or prepare any work, please get in touch. It has internet access, books, DVD's, games etc on aspects of PSHE, SRE, Drug Education, Physical Activity, Healthy Eating and more.

Use of the room is by appointment so if you would like to take advantage of this, please contact us.

A monthly list of a selection of resources will be sent to schools.

We look forward to seeing you.

Where can a young person or a member of staff go for support or guidance on a substance related issue?

THE SCHOOL NURSE is an excellent starting point for help. They have all attended basic drug awareness training and can refer young people to the relevant agency if further help is required. Many of the school nurses are now trained to help young people quit smoking and can issue nicotine patches or gum as part of that process. Anything discussed with the school nurse is confidential.

ZIG ZAG The process for referrals to Zig Zag has changed. Trev, is currently the only Zig Zag worker. He can offer guidance, support and information to both young people and the adults who work with them regarding substance misuse. He can offer interventions to individuals but he is no longer able to offer education in schools. Parents evenings may be possible in some circumstances.

STAFF - FOR ALL REFERRALS please contact Trev directly as below:

Trevor Machell - Tel 07966 890897



Young people can contact Zig Zag through their school nurse, local Connexions Centre or School Personal Adviser.

For any other support or information regarding drug education in schools, contact: Liz Price, Drug Education Development Officer, 01432 383399 or email lizprice@herefordshire.gov.uk


1: Drugscope 2003
2: A Study of Alcohol Consumption in Young People-Beinart, S - 2002

Links:
www.drugsfaqs.co.uk - Drug information and advice
www.wrecked.co.uk - for young people re alcohol
www.talktofrank.com or 0800 776600 - National Drug Helpline
www.drugscope.org.uk or 0207 928 1211 - National drugs charity
www.re-solve.org - advice and information on the issue of solvent abuse

Downloads: (Right-click to save)
Zig Zag referral form (.doc 23.0 kb)