skills; road safety and bike sheds; increased walking and cycling to school; more school sport clubs and physical activities; and increased participation in physical activity. We are also beginning to see a growth in re‑designed playgrounds; more active playtimes; playtime buddies; anti-bullying and pupil voice; and mindfulness and positive relationships. INVESTMENT The Mayor’s investment has already levered in support from London Boroughs to support
HSL. 25 London Boroughs now have a local Healthy Schools Programme or equivalent local support for schools. The Healthy Schools London programme is delivered via a Network of Borough Leads who work directly with schools. We now have 1,673 (72 per cent) London schools registered. Of these, 804 schools have already achieved a Bronze Award, 205 have achieved a Silver Award and 18 a Gold Award. HEAD TEACHER FOCUS/CASE STUDY: Karen Jaeggi, Worcesters Primary School, London Borough of Enfield Karen Jaeggi has been head teacher at
Catering
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Childhood obesity is a critical issue especially for London children. More than a third of London’s 11 year-olds are overweight and more than one in five are obese Worcesters Primary School since February 2011. When she arrived, the school had been given ‘Notice to improve’ by Ofsted. Within two years, by the end of 2013, the school was deemed ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Karen approached her tenure as head at Worcesters by adopting the Healthy Schools model and using it as an improvement tool across the whole school. This model has helped with pupil behaviour, attendance and achievement throughout the school. Some of the activities that she implemented include a swing high club where pupils in early years have structured timetabled activities using the climbing frame to improve their gross motor skills. The handwriting of pupils in Early Years have improved as a result. Karen also initiated playground zones for different activities whereby pupils are led by their peers and by lunchtime supervisors in a range of playground activities at break and lunchtime including: ball games, pogo sticks, climbing frames, bikes/trikes, skipping. Pupils are now more active at break and lunch times and less playground incidents are now recorded. There is now a healthy breakfast club with activities for pupils. Attendance has increased since the introduction of the breakfast club. In addition, the school now has team points system across the school to reward good behaviour, effort and achievement. Karen has overseen the re-design of the school dining room with more light and bright colours and 3D models of fruit and vegetables, menu options added in consultation with pupils, servery lowered so all pupils can now see food on offer, all pupils must have a meal that includes vegetables. These activities have resulted in an increase in school meal uptake to 77 per cent of all pupils (280 pupils). This has been matched by improved packed lunches, with the school implementing a packed lunch policy via parental consultation, assemblies and displays so that 76 per cent now meet the Food Based Standards. Consequently, an increase in the consumption of healthy snacks eaten at break time has grown through the selling fruit pots. The school implemented ‘Worcester’s Way’ where pupils have a ‘Plan A’ and a ‘Plan B’ for their future lives based on their aspirations, interests and abilities, which helps to promote the policy of ‘Be the Best you can Be’. The impact of these Healthy Schools activities means that: pupils are more engaged in P.E; literacy has improved; pupils have better relationships with one another and are more physically active at break and lunch times;
attendance is in line with national averages; there are very low incidences of behaviour recorded after lunch time; all pupils that attended swing high club showed improved handwriting as a result of this intervention; 55 fruit pots are sold each day to pupils in KS2; and 40 pupils attend breakfast club. Karen is confident in crediting the whole school approach to health and well-being as promoted by the Healthy Schools model for the success of the school and its staff and pupils. Karen continues her work as Head of Worcester’s Primary Schools but also supports other schools in Enfield as part of her role as a National Leader of Education (NLE). Karen is a member of the Healthy Schools London Strategic Advisory group. L A film of Worcester’s Primary School is available to view at: www.healthyschoolslondon.org.uk/ resources/ofsted/school-improvment FURTHER INFORMATION www.healthyschoolslondon.org.uk
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