Schools health project

The Scottish Government has announced that a project to tackle health inequalities in schools has been launched.

The Health and Wellbeing in Schools project aims to improve children's health, increase healthcare capacity in schools and reduce health inequalities.

On Wednesday 7 October, Minister for Public Health Shona Robison visited Belmont Academy in Ayr, one of four 'demonstration sites' in Scotland.

A team of health workers provides healthcare, pre-literacy skills and emotional support to children at the school and its feeder primaries, and their families.

The team consists of two school nurses, two support workers, a speech and language therapist and a mental health nurse.

Their work includes a healthy eating programme, running language groups and working with school staff to support young people who need extra support and guidance.