Children also need the skills to stay safe and the knowledge to deal with risk to prevent accidental injury. But with only a very small number of schools taking the safety component of the National Healthy School Standard, how can this be achieved?
Schools have a very important role to play here, but I think that parents must take the lead in bringing up their children, from their earliest years, to be healthy and safe. And as children get older, they will need the skills, experience and knowledge to make their own decisions, not only about diet and health but also about risk, how to assess it and deal with it appropriately.
It's all about growing up to be strong and independent young people.
We want to help parents in that role and by providing information on exercise, diet and safety we can help them to make informed choices in caring for their children.
Of course every school should keep its pupils safe, whether or not they are following the National Healthy Schools Standard. Through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons, pupils can find out how to stay safe, including understanding school rules about safety, how to avoid taking unnecessary risks, such as road safety, and what to do if someone does get hurt or injured accidentally.
Pupils should also be taught the basic skills of first aid, and older students in particular should be able to use first aid in an emergency.
In subjects such as science, information technology and physical education, as well as in PSHE, pupils need to know the appropriate health and safety rules and how to behave in an acceptable way. Pupils should also be taught how to behave responsibly and what to do if they are encouraged by others to take part in something that is risky.
- Got a question for the minister? Send it in to Donna Murphy, Children Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP or email donna.murphy@haynet.com.
