Central funding for the Healthy Schools programme ceased at the end of March. The coalition government’s policy is that Healthy Schools will continue but in future it is to be ‘schools led’. As a result the Cumbria Healthy Schools Team was disbanded on 31^st March 2011. 

Since the Healthy Schools Programme was revised in 2005, 100% of schools in Cumbria have engaged in the initiative with 90% of schools having achieved National Healthy Schools Status.  This is a fantastic result and something we, as a team, are very proud of. We would like to thank all schools concerned for their efforts and dedication to the programme. Cumbria schools have an excellent reputation, which is nationally recognised, and the children and young people of Cumbria have benefited as a result.

Since the start of 2010, a further 20% of the schools which have achieved Healthy Schools Status have gone on to complete their Annual Review.  The Annual Review is the initial stage of Healthy Schools Enhanced and we are delighted that so many schools have shown their commitment to the programme by completing this review process.  One school in the county has recently achieved Healthy Schools Enhanced and others in the county are close to achieving this milestone. Schools which are in the process of working towards Healthy Schools Enhanced should continue to do so.  The new audit tool for this and the Annual Review are now active on the Department of Education website: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/ healthandwellbeing .

You may be aware that the County Council is in the process of forming a Health and Wellbeing Team, which will have a range of responsibilities, one of which will be to provide support and advice to schools.  I am sure that when this team is complete, you will be informed of its full role and contact details.

Finally, can I express my gratitude to my team who have achieved a huge amount over a number of years. They have demonstrated their dedication, commitment and professionalism in all they have done and I am sure you will join me in thanking them for their hard work and support.  I wish them all the best for the future.

Mike Telford

School Improvement Officer

Manager – Cumbria Healthy Schools

The Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) was a joint initiative between DCSF and Department of Health (DH) - which promoted a whole school / whole child approach to health. The Programme was launched in 1999 and came to an end on 31 March 2011. It was recognised as a key delivery mechanism in the Children’s Plan (DCSF 2007) and in Healthy Weight, healthy Lives (DH 2008) – 21st Century White Paper reference.

National Healthy School Status required schools to meet criteria in four core theme areas.

These were:

• Personal, Social and Health Education (including SRE and Drugs Education)
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Emotional Health and Wellbeing.