Stainburn achieved Healthy Schools status in 2008 and continues its commitment to the Healthy Schools programme. To achieve Healthy Schools status, it was necessary to meet the required criteria in four areas:
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Wellbeing Education
Healthy Eating
Physical Activity
Emotional Health and Wellbeing
Stainburn was also selected for a Local Authority monitoring visit by the Cumbria Healthy School Team and we were delighted with the report of its findings:
“The school offers a wide range of activity covering all the relevant themes of the National Healthy School Standards and a number of linked initiatives which support the Stay Healthy outcome of Every Child Matters.”
“It was great to meet lots of students and teachers who are so positive and inspired by the work that they are doing.”
A selection of statements from the summary of findings:
As a lead practice school, Stainburn has embedded SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) into the curriculum. There is very positive involvement from pupils in the life of the school. Students are respected and listened to and are becoming independent and confident learners and members of the school community. A wide range of extra-curricular activities is offered to students.
Students report that they enjoy coming to school and their successes in all areas are recognised and celebrated. The School Council is a very dynamic and proactive group who clearly enjoy their role. A parent governor reported that parents are encouraged to come into school to discuss issues with staff.
Healthy Eating:
Stainburn has a very high uptake of pupils taking dinners – due to the imaginative varied menus and value for money provided by our excellent catering staff. We have two designated eating venues and pupils and visitors report that this has had a beneficial effect on reducing litter around school and playgrounds.
Through the School Council, pupils expressed the wish for more ethnic food to be available and this is incorporated into daily menus – as well as the regular themed lunch days: “Food from Around the World”.
The main dining room has been recently re-furbished and at pupil request a Pasta/Panini Bar has been opened.
None of this has detracted from Stainburn’s commitment to Healthy Eating, with locally sourced food and healthier ingredients and cooking methods incorporated into providing tasty meals every day. The kitchen staff recognise the Children’s rights to nutritious food (Article 24 of the UNCRC) and often provide Fair Trade Products.
Update:
Central funding from the government to local Healthy Schools Programmes has ceased and national recognition of Healthy Schools has stopped, although still recognised at a local level. From 2013, the responsible body will be the Health and Wellbeing Board. In the meantime, Healthy Schools is changing to a ‘schools -led’ model and is now the responsibility of the Department of Health.
Regardless of funding issues, the groundwork has been well done and the Healthy School ethos is thoroughly embedded at Stainburn.
