Central to the National Healthy Schools Programme is the whole school approach. Achieving National Healthy School Status recognises that being healthy is not just about children and young people, it is about the whole school community. And it's not just what happens in the curriculum, it's about the entire school day.
If you are working towards National Healthy Schools, it is important that one person is not asked to complete it in their spare time. It is advantageous to have someone to coordinate it, but work towards healthy schools should be a whole-school, whole-curriculum effort involving positive leadership, the development of clear policies and the inclusion of health issues in all school planning and policies.
The whole-school culture and the whole-school community will need to have a positive input and this includes parents and children as well as the wider community.
Through adopting this approach schools ensure full engagement with the school community and secure sustainable improvements.
There are 10 elements to the whole school approach:
View the Guidance Document on the whole school approach document for more information.