Young people generally do not isolate different aspects of their lives and can - with an effective educational and participative process - learn about themselves, and reflect on and develop an insight into how different aspects of their lives influence one another. It is therefore essential that different aspects of health promotion are delivered in a clear and integrated way.
Moffat Academy is in an interesting position of having nursery, primary and secondary schools operating as a combined school from a single campus. This gives the opportunity for working across the whole school age groups on a range of topics including health promotion.
The school has developed many opportunities to promote health and support the work being undertaken within the whole school including, amongst many other examples:
- School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG)
- Eco Schools Group – links to health promotion
- tuck shop – developing a healthy tuck shop
- community/agency involvement – visitors and speakers contributing to learning
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Moffat Academy Self Help (MASH) – an area in the school where the pupils can get leaflets on a wide variety of topics to help them if they are troubled by emotional, sexual, mental, social or physical issues. There are also trained pupils available to give advice as well as a co-ordinator (teacher).
- physical activity – introducing power walking
- nursery – close links between school and nursery
- involving parents and carers.
Health Week
At Moffat Academy the Health Week lays the foundations for thinking about all aspects of health. The school planned a range of health promoting activities under the following headings:
- participation
- partnerships
- transitions
- innovation
- parental involvement.
Participation
There is whole school participation, that is nursery, primary and secondary staff and pupils take part in the many varied activities during the school year which encompass many aspects of health and well-being including:
- mental
- emotional
- sexual
- physical
- spiritual.
Partnerships
Partnership working is essential to the week with help from a variety of health professionals including:
- school nurses
- local doctor
- reflexologist
- specialist in massage
- specialist in mental health
- local businesses
- parents and members of the wider community
- Active Schools co-ordinator
- home link worker.
Transitions
Given the nature of the school the transition from nursery to primary and the transition from primary to secondary are a priority. Planned activities include:
- nursery pupils go into secondary school to cook with parents
- secondary pupils support primary and nursery with tasting sessions
- primary classes cook in secondary home economics kitchens.
Innovation
Moffat Academy is a school which takes advantage of opportunities which present themselves and is also innovative in developing opportunities including:
- nursery – healthy lunch box competitions; Bob the Builder dances
- primary – activity diaries, tasting sessions
- secondary – all pupils can have a free breakfast, use of pedometers, tasting sessions, power walking, contraception workshops
- whole school - use of pedometers, reiki, salsa dancing, reflexology and massage.
Parental involvement
The involvement of parents is seen as an important aspect of the school with many examples of parental involvement including:
- nursery parents’ workshop on healthy choices and cooking skills – made fajitas – pupils were also involved
- parents on the School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG) helped with planning of the week.
