Public Health, as part of NHS Bedfordshire, provides schools with specialist packages of work, training, guidance and advice related to specific, identified priority health areas for children and young people. These priority areas have been identified in partnership between the Local Authority and NHS Bedfordshire in the Child Health and Well-being Group plan 2011-2012 as follows:

a)      Mental Health & Well-being

b)      Healthy Weight, Diet & Obesity & Physical Activity 

c)       Teenage Pregnancy & Sexual Health

d)      Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco

e)      Children with complex needs - to include Looked After Children (LAC); Young Carers; Teenage Parents; Young Offenders

Both NHS Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Local Authority are committed to the implementation of the 5-19 Healthy Child Programme, which will ensure targeted interventions and measured impact, against all of the above priorities.

The core ambition of the Healthy Child Programme is that it results in healthier, happier children and young people who are ready to take advantage of positive opportunities and able to reach their full potential. This should be made possible for all children and young people, regardless of health status or home background.

The best possible health underpins a child’s or young person’s ability to flourish, stay safe and achieve as they grow up. Health is crucially linked with education – for example, a child who does not master the basics of reading and numeracy may experience not only education but health problems in the future. On the other hand, good health and emotional wellbeing are associated with improved attendance and attainment at school, which in turn lead to improved employment opportunities. In addition, children who thrive at school are better placed to act on information about good health. Failure to meet the health needs of children and young people stores up problems for the future. Lifestyles and habits established during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood influence a person’s health throughout their life.  (Healthy Child Programme: 5-19 2009)

The main focus of support from Public Health Specialists will target those schools who reside in wards of deprivation, high obesity levels, high teenage conception rates, high identified risky behaviours through alcohol and drug misuse. Provision is also most specific to support vulnerable individuals and groups - looked after children (LAC); Young Carers; Teenage Parents; Young Offenders - who most commonly attend schools within the aforementioned wards, but on occasions do not.

The Whole School Review Tool.

All schools are able to access the Whole School Review Tool from the Health in Schools website to assist with their biennial self-evaluation of the health and wellbeing provision across their whole school community. It supports schools to ensure they are considering both local and national health data in conjunction with their own school intelligence when planning their whole school approach to improving the health and well-being of the children and young people in their community. This enables schools to review their progress and ensure they are prepared for the new academic year ahead. It also guides schools in identifying specific health and well-being priorities that they may wish to address via the Enhancement Model Outcome Tool.