Agenda item

That the Committee confirmed that it had received an appropriate level of assurance regarding the work of the Education & Youth Portfolio in supporting schools with meeting the current requirements of the Healthy Schools programme and in preparing for any changes as a result of the national review. 

            The Learning Adviser – Health, Well-Being and Safeguarding presented the update report for Healthy Schools which had been present in schools for over 20 years and was funded by Public Health Wales but led at a Local Authority level. The Healthy Pre-School Scheme followed a similar model with the Scheme providing best practice for the schools to work towards and an outline of the health topics were included within the report. Prior to Covid, schools were assessed on how evidence was collected to support development and information on what schools had achieved had been presented to the Committee. Since Covid the Scheme was under a national review which had coincided with the Curriculum reforms and a relaunch of the Scheme was proposed nationally in Spring 2024. The Healthy Schools Scheme was merging with the Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Well Being and would also be launched in Spring 2024.

            The priority had been to support schools to address the whole school approach to evaluate their own provision for well-being in supporting learners and staff, to strengthen the positive areas,  address any shortfalls and to develop an action plan for next year. The report included information on the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS) with 82.1% of Flintshire schools engaged with this process, which was higher than the Welsh average of 52%. More than 67% had completed the Self-Assessment Tool which had been well received especially in secondary schools. An update on the RSE Code / Curriculum for Wales and Food and Nutrition in secondary schools was given. Consultation with learners across secondary schools had been undertaken with their recommendations for improvements included.

The report provided information on the Coordination of Programmes for the Healthy & Sustainable Pre-school Scheme (HSPSS),  Food and Fun and Period Dignity. The report also included information on the Vaping Definition which was particularly challenging for Head Teachers in schools. Vaping was sold as an alternative to smoking for adults but there was no long-term evidence available at present on the implications of vaping. Information was provided on the formation of the Incident Response Group and the Authority was providing training for leads in Secondary Schools on the vaping devices, the different levels of chemicals contained within them and how to raise awareness of the risks involved. A smoke free policy had been developed and would be launched in the Autumn term and an outline on how the training would better inform Head Teachers of secondary and primary schools was provided.

Schools continued to receive support around the completion of the School Health Research Network Survey (SHRN) which would be undertaken in the Autumn in secondary schools to enable more local data to be collected. Once the accurate data from all secondary schools had been collected, it would be published in Spring 2024. Changes would then be required on a UK wide level to combat this and the briefing from Ash Wales would support that need for change.

            Councillor Dave Mackie commented that he was aware of one school which had tightened their policy on vaping and had seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of vaping. Referring to the new Scheme commencing in 2024, Councillor Mackie suggested that a report outlining the plans and objectives should be presented to the Committee at a future meeting. He said that when updates were presented, it would enable Members to look at the report to understand the stages to see how the objectives were being met.

            The Learning Adviser – Health, Well-Being and Safeguarding advised that the focus around the Plan was about the whole school approach, Relationships and Sexuality Education, Food and Nutrition, Food and Fun and Period Dignity. These priorities continued for this year and the objectives were provided at Section 1.06 of the report. Schools had their own plans based on their needs and an analysis which had been undertaken on the responses received to the Whole School Approach audit which would identify common themes across schools which could be shared.

            In response to comments by Councillor Mackie around fitness, the Learning Advisor confirmed that Public Health Wales, as part of their Review, would be separating health themes with fitness activities standing alone. This would be prioritised more with Aura and other organisations who supported schools with regard to physical activity.

            The Senior Manager, School Improvement advised that clear objectives and priorities would be shared with Members once the new scheme was in place. There were challenges because of Covid, the review of the National Scheme. The authority in the national discussions with Public Health on how the Scheme would develop. Discussions held with the stakeholders would enable those aims and objectives to be put in place. She paid testament to the hard work of the Learning Adviser and the small team supporting this  

The recommendation, as outlined within the report, was moved by Councillor Dave Mackie and seconded by Councillor Carolyn Preece.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee confirmed that it had received an appropriate level of assurance regarding the work of the Education & Youth Portfolio in supporting schools with meeting the current requirements of the Healthy Schools programme and in preparing for any changes as a result of the national review.