Children do better at school if they are happy, healthy and safe.

The Healthy Schools Programme supports schools to recognise and celebrate achievements in whole-school health improvement. It is a simple way to collate evidence that will be useful for Ofsted inspection judgement areas.

East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex School Health Service are developing a new, locally designed Healthy Schools self-assessment which will launch soon.

The previous tool used to gain Healthy Schools status in East Sussex – the School Health Check – is no longer supported by the council. All existing Healthy Schools awards remain valid for their normal duration.

The new approach will provide schools with a more locally focused and manageable way to:

• review their whole-school approach to health and wellbeing
• recognise existing strengths and good practice
• identify priorities for improvement
• work towards East Sussex Healthy School status.

The new tool is being piloted with a small number of East Sussex schools. Feedback from the pilot will be used to refine the self-assessment, guidance and support arrangements before the scheme is made more widely available.

We expect to fully launch the updated scheme in the new year. Further information will be published on Czone when arrangements have been finalised.

In the meantime, schools can continue to contact the East Sussex School Health Service via email kentchft.esschoolhealthservice@nhs.net or phone 0300 123 4062 for advice about the Healthy Schools programme or support with health and wellbeing.