Immediate and diary: Monday, 4 July, 2005
Conference Helps Oldham Schools Shape Up
More than 60 teachers and school health advisers from Oldham will attend a special event next week to find out how they can incorporate healthy food and physical activity into the lives of the children of their schools.
Organised by the Oldham Healthy Schools Programme, the Food and Physical Activity in Schools Conference will take place at the Centre for Professional Development, Fitton Hill, on Monday, 4 July, 2005.
Healthy Schools Co-ordinator Linda Devlin, from Positive Steps Oldham, explained the purpose of the day: “School dinners are a big issue at the moment, thanks to Jamie Oliver, but food in school does not begin and end at lunchtime.
“Monday’s conference will look at how we can improve nutrition for young people across the whole of the school day, from breakfast clubs to healthier lunch-boxes and growing clubs, where pupils grow their own fruit and vegetables. We will also look at how physical activity can be incorporated into the school day to enhance and support the PE curriculum."
The day will also feature the launch of the Government’s Food in Schools Toolkit, which consists of guidance, advice, case studies and templates brought to life by interactive elements such as a ‘Food Audit’, and links to Personal, Social, Health and Citizenshp Education to help schools create customised solutions.
Those attending the conference will learn about the national perspective on food and physical activity and then experience a number of practical workshops in the morning and afternoon, with a lunch (healthy options only!) in between.
Oldham Healthy Schools Programme is open to all primary and secondary schools in Oldham and works towards the Government’s National Healthy School Standard, which is a joint initiative between the department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health.
In Oldham, the programme is a partnership between Oldham LEA, Oldham NHS Primary Care Trust and Positive Steps Oldham, a local independent sector organisation that delivers a range of young people’s services.
If you would like to register your healthy schools work with the Oldham Healthy School Programme, please contact Linda Devlin on 0161 621 9370 and Samantha White on 0161 621 9383.
Ends
For more information, please contact Andy Swain, Marketing and Information Manager, Positive Steps Oldham, on 0161 621 9321, or Linda Devlin, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator on 0161 621 9370.
