Issue - meetings

(a)       That the progress made in both the Healthy and Sustainable Pre-school Scheme and the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Schemes in Flintshire, be noted;

(b)       That the overview of key issues for children and young people in Flintshire, which may impact their ability to reach their full potential at school, be noted; and

(c)        That the Committee wish to highlight a need for further education and preventative measures, and the need for all agency partners and parents/carers to work together to educate and deliver change.

The Learning Advisor – Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding presented the report which provided an update to Committee on the outcome of the School Health Research Network.  The report detailed progress made with the Healthy Schools Scheme, Healthy Pre-School Scheme which all our school participated in and School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP).   The Healthy Schools Programme had been active for 17 years and provided a whole school approach to well-being and had now extended to the Healthy Pre-School Schools.  She provided an update on the training carried out within the last 12 months and referred members to the targets shown at Section 1.04 of the report which had been met and she was pleased to confirm that 10% of schools had met the national quality award status.

She continued to provide information on the School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP) which provided breakfast, lunch and physical and cooking opportunities on two sites with proposals to extend this to Flint High and Queensferry Primary School.   She referred Members to the School Health Research Network (SHRN) in partnership with Welsh Government policy makers, Cardiff University, Public Health Wales, Cancer Research UK and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods to obtain data on well-being.  All secondary pupils took part in the study in the Autumn of 2017 with 82% of all pupils taking part in the survey.  The survey covered food, fitness and physical activity, emotional health, substance use and misuse and sex and relationships. This was an achievement getting schools to take part especially because of the importance of the data.  In the Spring of 2018 every school had received their individual report and in November 2018 the first county report was finalised. There was an embargo on national data from Welsh Gov until April.  There were Action Plans in all schools which were pupil led in all High Schools and a County Action Plan was being developed which would be shared once national data was released.  Representatives from the University of Cardiff had visited two school events and she then provided information on the highlights.   Flintshire was within the national average and this was 4 year action plan and with another survey taking place this autumn.  The data would be used as evidence and ensure parental engagement opportunities in the action plans.

Councillor Kevin Hughes said that this was an excellent report but that it did not make pleasant reading when it came to the figures on alcohol at 51% and drugs at 31% commenting that Cannabis was a gateway drug which should not be underestimated.  He raised concerns with the figure 22% of 13 years or younger who were sexually active when the age of consent was 16 years, which were very worrying statistics.  Society was failing these children and that parents needed to be more involved.  As regards to the figure of 41% of bullying he asked how much was online bullying.  He also asked how confident the Council was on accuracy of the figures.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5