Healthy eating in schools: supplementary guidance

Case Study Example: Family nights - Hillside School, Cumnock

Fortnightly family nights were started through consultation and then identification of certain gaps from a parental point of view. These nights provided access to sport and leisure activities within the community, further education courses, opportunities for whole families, siblings and parents to enjoy the activities together. These cases involved the core issue of support for example support with moving and handling and care: support in regards to supporting the young people when parents were attending courses or the young people themselves who required the support in order to access club type activities such as sports, crafts and art. The introduction of the social nights enabled the coordination and contribution of integrated services support and the integration of finances in order to allow parents and pupils equal opportunities within their community.

Fortnightly parent/carer and pupil social nights enable parents and children and young people to jointly participate in sports, leisure, swimming, healthy eating and living programmes. For example, parents have completed a healthy eating and nutrition programme. The evenings are jointly planned by community sports coordinator, community links officer, education and parents, and run by community link officers and are linked to staff from the local health and leisure centres and a social community project namely YIPWorld.com. The project has been funded and supported by Childcare Partnership Service, community sports coordinator and the Cumnock Learning Partnership. The role of the school in this project has helped parents feel more supported, heard and full partners in the planning and execution of structures that they feel are not readily available from the main frame of normal business.

Case Study Example: Health and Wellbeing clinics - Hillside School

Health and Wellbeing clinics were established in Hillside School as an effective way to address complex issues with eating and drinking through different agencies working together. On a needs led basis, the speech and language therapist, dietitian, school nurse, carers, staff from the school and other disciplines set up a clinic for parents. The clinics benefit the child and the family through being offered locally, and healthcare professionals and school staff having the opportunity to discuss issues and parents are able to raise any issues and have their views and needs of their children taken into consideration. It helps to ensure feeding is safe, nutritionally adequate and enjoyable, and provides a forum for discussion and improved communication. Training issues are highlighted, and provision of food in school is reviewed as a result. The clinics have been received positively by both staff and parents. What was deduced from this project was the reduction in multiple involvement which led to direct coordination, less duplication of information and practice and greater integrated working. This meant a more time efficient structure and therefore a saving on the time required of the professionals involved.