A-Z of Services

Wrexham Healthy Schools Scheme

Welcome to the Wrexham Healthy Schools Scheme

The Healthy Schools Scheme is an integral part of Wrexham County Boroughs’ Children and Young People’s service, within Prevention and Inclusion.

We are committed to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children and young people through health promotion activity and programmes in Schools.

What is a Healthy School?
How are schools supported?
Useful information for parents
Contact information
Useful Links
Easy Ways to Make Lunchboxes Healthier

What is a Healthy School?

A health promoting school is one which actively promotes and protects the physical, mental and social health and well being of its community through positive action by such means as policy, strategic planning and staff development with regard to its curriculum, ethos, physical environment and community relations.

Wrexham’s Healthy Schools Scheme was launched in 2002, and is a member of the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes. The scheme was accredited by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2003. The Scheme is a partnership between Health and Education, which recognises that there are mutual benefits in young people’s health and attainments to be gained.

The scheme demonstrates commitment to supporting and encouraging the growth and implementation of the Personal and Social Education (PSE) framework in schools, in addition to ensuring that national health priorities are considered in the daily life of the school for pupils, staff and the wider community.

By establishing a healthy school climate, improved health and
well-being is reflected in raised educational standards. Health Promotion in schools is a combination of health education within the curriculum and all other actions a school takes to protect and improve the health of those within it. The wider community is involved in its planning, implementation, evaluation and celebration.

How are schools supported?

In Wrexham there is a team of officers dedicated to supporting schools in developing the healthy school scheme.

Schools are supported in developing actions to meet their identified needs, which are planned with clear achievement criteria and methods for monitoring and evaluation. Local networking is facilitated between schools and professional agencies and training opportunities are made available for staff. Additional funding is available to support Healthy Schools in the form of grants e.g. food and fitness grants and also locally sourced funds for project development.

Typically schools undertake an assessment annually and are accredited for each year of successful participation in the scheme with a green leaf plaque. Schools are awarded their plaque at a celebration event in the autumn.

Useful information for parents

The Ten Point Plan

Healthy Schools in Wrexham follow what is refer to as The Ten Point Plan, which identifies nine areas of health, in addition to a major health promoting event. These are:
Communities, Nutrition, Staff health, Emotional health, Environment and Safety, Physical Activity, Smoking, Drug and Alcohol and Sex and Relationships Education (SRE).

Participating schools are asked to develop actions around each of the health themes and over an initial three year period. Evidence of all activities and developments is assessed annually.
The scheme is active for nine years in total, with the remaining six years refocusing on a one theme per year. Schools are asked to demonstrate that the work is sustainable and that health promotion has become an integral part of the daily life of the school. The achievement of each point is the context of local needs and priorities.

Food and Fitness

Appetite for Life 2008