As we celebrate Highland as a vibrant place to live and learn in the Year of Culture, we also celebrate our strengths and successes in improving our health.
We know that schools have incorporated Health and Wellbeing as their core business and Health Promoting Schools principles and practice are very much now mainstreamed into the work of Highland schools. This was particularly evident during Healthy Highland Week in January 2007 where many schools stated that ‘every week was a healthy week in their school’.
By the end of 2005, two years ahead of the Scottish Executive target, all Highland schools and learning centres had been accredited as being ‘Health Promoting.’ This achievement was recognised at national level when The Highland Council, Education, Culture and Sport Service in partnership with NHS Highland received a Scottish Education Award for ‘improving the lives of young people’. This achievement can be attributed to all the hard work and efforts of everyone in our school communities.
In developing this second edition of the Highland Health Promoting Schools Guidance we have had the valuable opportunity of being able to reflect on successes, consolidate work started in previous years and focus on how we can all go on ‘making a difference.’ Toolkit 2 provides a way for all schools maintain their Health Promoting Schools status and show how they are making a difference.
The Highland Health Promoting Schools scheme is seen as a key element in the ‘Your Choice to Healthy Living’ initiative, which is a cornerstone of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service Plan. The ‘Yourchoice’ initiative provides a framework for all agencies, and stakeholders to work together to improve health and advance communities well-being.
A copy of the Your Choice Implementation Plan 2008-09 can be downloaded from the Current Documents section.
For details of Your Choice to Healthy Living please see link located in the External Links section.
A copy of Guidance for Healthy Packed Lunches can be downloaded from the Current Documents section.
The Your Choice Health Action Group have devised 3 guidance sheets to assist schools in adhering to the nutritional standards set within the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. They are easy to use and encourage schools to think about what can be sold within the morning break, other food provided within the school and the ethos of food as a reward. These guidance sheets can be downloaded from the Current Documents section.
- Guidance for School Snacks - designed to offer extra clarity and practical suggestions for mid morning break in primary and secondary schools.
- Guidance for Healthier Home Baking - this guidance offers help to home cooks, school caterers and pupils to improve the nutritional value of home baking.
- Guidance for Food for Celebrations - foods available at mid morning break and lunch time must now meet national nutritional standards. This guidance encourages schools to follow similar principles at social and cultural events which might include school trips, discos, summer fetes, sports days and other special events.
Contacts:-
Health Promoting Schools Manager
Louise Jones, Education, Culture and Sport Service
The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
e-mail: louise.jones@highland.gov.uk
Quality Improvement Officer
Barry Northedge, Education, Culture and Sport Service
The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
Mobile Tel: 07795 612606
e-mail: barry.northedge@highland.gov.uk
Back to top