06/09/2004

Schools 'Blueprint' to offer healthier lifestyles for pupils

Every school will be encouraged to promote healthy lifestyles as part of a government initiative announced today.

The 'Health Living Blueprint' sets out a range of resources that schools can use to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead healthy lives.

Healthier lifestyle choices, such as the nutritional value of food, should feature throughout the curriculum and school life, according to the plan. After-school activities could involve the growing and cooking of fresh fruit and vegetables.

A better range of food and drink should be made available, including school meals, tuck shops and vending machines. Children should have access to water throughout the day, the plan states.

Over £1 million is being invested in improving school meal and nutritional standards for secondary schools are to be revised. School leaders are to get help sourcing a healthy school meals' service, and catering staff are to get better training.

The government is investing £5.7 million each year to promote all aspects of health to pupils. Ten thousand schools have already reached Healthy School Standard status.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke said: "The Healthy School Programme has already achieved much in developing a whole-school approach to health and wellbeing for young people.

"I hope that the Blueprint will build on this foundation, and encourage schools to play a full part in the health of the nation."

(gmcg/mb)

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