Healthier children do better in learning and in life. By enabling children and young people to make positive changes to their behaviour regarding health and well-being, schools can help them reach their full potential in terms of achievement and fulfilment. They can also encourage good habits which will benefit children and young people both now and in the future.

The Government’s vision of the 21st century school has at its heart the need to address elements of the lives of children and young people, with a particular emphasis on health and well-being.

Both by achieving National Healthy School Status (NHSS) and through participating in the Healthy Schools enhancement model, schools can develop the wider thinking and planning they will need to do to achieve better outcomes around health and well-being for children and young people.

The enhancement model will provide a particular focus on providing targeted support for children and young people who are most at risk.

Healthy Schools and Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a comprehensive approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. It places national outcomes for children and young people firmly at the centre of all policies and approaches involving children’s services.

The five outcomes for children and young people are:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve through learning
• Make a positive contribution to society
• Achieve economic well-being.

Every Child Matters expects organisations which provide services to children and young people, including schools, to work together in more integrated and effective ways. It also encourages children and young people to have more say about issues that affect them as individuals and collectively.

There are direct links between the criteria for NHSS, the Healthy Schools enhancement model and the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

In addition, local authorities have to demonstrate their progress in helping schools achieve NHSS through the comprehensive area assessment (CAA).