Health and wellbeing

Approaches to learning and teaching should provide challenge and opportunities for children and young people to develop their knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes.

Progression in health and wellbeing involves the development of specialist skills in, for example, physical education and the preparation of food. It is also about providing planned opportunities for young people to develop their personal, social and ‘life’ skills such as taking responsibility for their own health and fitness, skills for independent living, decision making, working with other people and communication.

Creating the right climate of trust is important. Where teachers and contributing adults establish positive, open and honest relationships, children and young people feel more comfortable and secure in their ability to discuss and share views on sensitive aspects of their lives.

Learning through health and wellbeing promotes confidence, independent thinking and positive attitudes and dispositions. Because of this, it is the responsibility of every teacher to contribute to learning and development in this area.

Approaches to learning and teaching need to emphasise participation in experiences as well as achievement of outcomes. Activities should be appropriate to the needs and stage of development of each child and young person. Personalisation, critical thinking, active learning and the development of practical and performance skills and practical abilities should be features of the learning and teaching in health and wellbeing programmes.

The learning is enriched when the views of children and young people are taken into account, particularly where sensitive issues are involved (as in health education) or choices are to be made.

Acquiring skills, knowledge and understanding about health and wellbeing, however, is not enough. The aim is that children and young people should develop a commitment to promoting their own health and wellbeing throughout their lives.

In addition, pre-school settings and schools can help to foster health in families and communities through their work with other professionals, parents, children and young people.