Health & Wellbeing in Integrated Learning Communities

I’m often asked to highlight examples of good practice in my blog and I’m always happy to oblige. Remember when learning out how to look after your teeth and gums was little more than receiving a pack with a little pink disclosing tablet and a crocodile sticker?!

Well the Highland Oral Health Improvement Co-ordinators for me are embracing all aspects of good health improvement work in their awareness raising sessions with kids of all ages and stages. The recent Pennyland Toothfayre involved 300 pupils from neighbouring Caithness schools. It involved learning about nutrition and oral health in a very fun and active learning based toothfayre. I just love the pictures showing the creative work of Highland Council chef, Andy Green.

You can see further pics on the Healthy Highland Photogallery I’ve put together which uses pixelpost. It’s a very easy way to display photos and allows you to moderate comments. Also, a little update on the Tooth Trauma Kit, I blogged about yonks ago? Well it recently had an official launch at the Shinty World Cup in Highland, it’s now considered a must have tool in the first aid boxes of any groups, well done to my good friends and colleagues Miranda and Jennie, great work!

The nutritional regulations in schools have now been agreed by Scottish Parliament, this is just a facet of the more holistic Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act  The new Act is a massive step forward that incorporates the work of Hungry for Success, Active Schools and Health Promoting Schools.  

The new nutritional regs are explained here. As always,  I’m keen to promote resources that enable school staff to teach young people about all aspects of nutrition. Chewonthis is a great resource for all to use.

I still speak to a lot of schools who are worried about the loss of revenue from tuckshops, I guess in some ways this shines a light on the fact we still have much education to do in enabling school staff to see that crisps, chocolate and fizzy blue juice / sweets = hyperative and unfocussed pupils. Really, is it that difficult to understand?? Where’s the ethics here?!

I have huge amounts of evidence to show the impacts of sugar-crashes/additives on attention span. ‘Food, Mood, Learning and Behaviour’ is one of our courses in Highland led by Dave Rex, a UK-wide respected professional in ADHD and nutrition.

My other view is that if we impose (will impose) these regulations, how soon will it be before food manufacturers cotton on and produce products that schools can sell that meet the regulations, not long I bet. Believe me the writing has been on the wall for a veerry long time. Why else did Coca-Cola buy out Tropicana?

In Highland, we’re producing guidance to support schools in purchasing tuck shop items that comply with the regulations, I’d be keen to hear what’s happening elsewhere?!