Nutrition Network Wales

Nutrition Network

Resources

Health Eating in Schools

The Nutrition Network of Wales doesn't just want healthy eating and health promotion to be part of the curriculum but they aim to get it part of the whole aspects of school life. For the network it isn't also just about healthy eating but also about making people more active, to help and protect both their mental, physical and social health.

They look at getting these messages across by strategic planning and staff development in their knowledge of the curriculum, physical environment and the community. As they are part of the European Network of Health Promoting Schools, the Better health Better Wales' scheme was started and they identified the need to develop a scheme specifically aimed at the schools. The Welsh Network of Healthy School Scheme, WNHSS, was then introduced; this looks at developing the current health schemes in schools and promoting health with schools.

Since the WNHSS was started the have come up with ideas of activities schools can do as part of the health promotion, they set up a site especially for teachers, parents, governors and students. The site has a number of nutrition information, resources and facts. They also introduced the Food in school assessment tool' that allows them to monitor their work on nutrition and evaluate it.

A special policy that looks at the development of a whole schools food and physical activity has been introduced and aimed at Governors, head teachers and healthy school co-ordinators. The policy is used to help schools when they are looking at their fitness and food regimes in school life.

Over the last few years the Departments for health and education have been working towards a programme for schools that looks at helping them include and introduce a scheme for the whole school that looks at education students about healthy eating and general food education.