This document serves as a government blueprint for healthier school children. It is useful for governors, headteachers and Local Authorities. It sets out the five key objectives that have been identified to help schools create a healthier environment for children, both short-term and long-term.

These objectives are to promote a school ethos and environment which encourages a healthy lifestyle; to use the full capacity and flexibility of the Curriculum to achieve a healthy lifestyle; to ensure the food and drink available across the school day reinforces the healthy lifestyle message; To provide high-quality physical education and school sport and promote physical activity as part of a lifelong healthy lifestyle and to promote an understanding of the full range of issues and behaviours which impact upon lifelong health.

The document has a section covering each of these objectives, with a breakdown of aims and expectations and examples of how the objectives can be integrated into the school environment. This ranges from learning about food in science lessons, understanding the natural world in geography lessons and providing a range of sporting activities in PE classes. The blueprint does not function as a set of rules but offers options and ideas on how schools can develop.

In addition, there is a separate section on “early years” children, under the age of five. Since 2001 the Government has introduced national standards for under-fives day care and this is reflected in the blueprint, who recommends a diversity of food and stimulating play activities.

An accompanying poster is also available - reference: DFES-0784-2004.

Visit the Healthy Living area of Teachernet