Healthy Schools initiative launched in Knowsley

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Healthy Schools initiative launched in Knowsley

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An initiative aimed at creating healthier schools across Knowsley has launched this week, with over 30 primary schools actively engaging onto the programme.

As part of Knowsley's Healthy Schools award programme primary and special schools across the borough are offering new school menus which highlight the healthiest choices available, as well as the introduction of new healthy main meals, drinks and dessert options.

The programme provides meal options that go beyond national standards for school food meals and is part of the borough's new Healthier Weight Strategy.

Schools taking part in the programme are being supported by the public health team to adopt a whole school approach by promoting healthy packed lunches and healthy lifestyle choices, such as walking to school and providing more physical activities. Schools will also launch the 'Pledge for a Healthy and Active Future' working towards a set of healthy school commitments.

Schools are presented with bronze, silver and gold awards which recognise their level of participation and achievements in the scheme and come with financial incentives.

Since returning from October half term schools are launching their new menus and are promoting their involvement in the scheme, sharing it in their newsletters and providing information to parents. Westvale primary used a smoothie bike to promote their launch. The bike was on the playground at drop off and pick up times throughout the week encouraging parents and pupils to try the smoothies they had blended through peddling on the bike.

Cllr Bannon, Knowsley's Cabinet Member for Health visited Whiston Willis Primary School during their lunch period to discuss the programme and healthier menu with the pupils and school meals team. The school community are excited to be joining the programme and looking forward to implementing their healthy swap station soon.

Primary and Special schools can still get involved in the programme by contacting the school meals or public health team as we hope that all our schools sign up.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley's Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said:

"Our school meals service already provides high quality, nutritious meals for children which meet national standards. This new initiative will see us take this one step further by providing healthier drinks and fruit or yoghurt as desserts more frequently and offering even more options for healthy lunches.

"We hope this initiative will encourage healthy eating habits for children from a young age and is just one of a range of measures we're implementing as part of our new Healthier Weight Strategy."

Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley's Cabinet Member for Health, commented:

"The health and wellbeing of our schoolchildren is something the council cares greatly about, so I welcome this programme which supports pupils' and the wider school community's health and wellbeing. I'm sure lots of our schools will get involved by supporting their pupils and families to eat well and be physically active."

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