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Living Well Schools Summer Newsletter

Article 1:Hot Weather Advice and Water Safety

Article 2: Pupil Voice Sustainability Summit

Article 3: Bang in Some Beans

Article 4: Illegal Tobacco and Vapes -Information for front line professionals

Article 5: Free: Youth Education Service

Article 6: Free 1 hour Poverty Workshop

Article 7: Have Your Say On Free Staff CPD

Article 8: Improving School Food: Putting Research into Action

Article 9: Feed Bellies Not Bins Toolkit

Article 10: National Walking Month

Article 11: National Discovery Week

Article 12: Opening Schools Facilities

Article 13: iKids Mobile Phone Study

Article 14: Archbishop Young Leaders Award

Quick links to other Living Well Schools offers

Hot Weather Advice

and Water Safety

Learning to stay safe in, on, and around water is essential for everyone, especially during hot weather when high temperatures can increase the temptation to cool off in rivers, canals, lakes, and reservoirs despite their hidden dangers.

Hot Weather Advice
Most of us welcome warm weather, but when it's too hot for too long, there are health risks. In England, there are on average 2000 heat related deaths every year.

For advice on hot weather:

Click here

Water Safety

It can be incredibly tempting to use rivers, canals, lakes, and reservoirs to cool off during hot weather, but there are many hidden dangers and tragically every year during the summer months there is a sharp rise in the number of accidental drownings in the UK.

Take care and follow local safety advice if you are going into the water to cool down.

The Royal Life Saving Society’s website has information about summer water safety

Click here

Please talk to your young people about the dangers and risks - West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning about the dangers of cooling off in open water

Click here

Water Safety – Free Resources & Workshops for Schools

Outdoor water safety helps children and young people understand the dangers in water, why summer can be a particularly risky time, and the importance of staying safe while swimming outdoors - please see a range of free support below for schools.

RNLI Water Safety Programmes

Children and young adults are one of the groups of people most vulnerable to drowning. To help tackle this, the RNLI have developed water safety programmes to help educate young people about how they can have fun and stay safe in and around the water. See their range of outreach workshops and sessions available to educate and inform young people about how to be safe – in, on, or around the water.

Click here

Canal River Trust – Explorers – Schools

Explorers is the Trust’s learning programme aimed at 5–12-year-olds, designed to inspire learning by connecting young people to canals and rivers and helping everyone to stay safe around water. They offer in-school and online workshops, talks, and free resources. The programme supports delivering age-appropriate advice through interactive activities, helping children understand and stay safe around water.

Click here

Swim Safe – School Resources

Swim Safe is a free water safety programme created by Swim England and the RNLI in 2013. They offer a range of fantastic, colourful resources to help you deliver fun, engaging lessons on outdoor water safety, including activity sheets, handouts, and information for parents. Download their tips and resources to support teaching children the importance of staying safe while swimming outdoors.

Click here

Pol-Ed - A positive force in education

Pol-Ed supports schools in delivering expertly planned lessons designed to develop a deep awareness of risks, citizenship and the law. Schools across West Yorkshire have access to their free service. Their resources help teachers deliver engaging sessions that build understanding and resilience, including a Summer Water Safety assembly covering water dangers, beach safety, and what to do in an emergency.

Click here

Pupil Voice Sustainability Summit

Pupil Voice Sustainability Summit Fully Booked as Schools Prepare to Showcase Creative Climate Action

We are delighted to announce that the Sustainability Summit is now officially sold out following overwhelming interest from schools across the district.

The event will bring together pupils, teachers and sector experts for an inspiring day focused on pupils’ sustainability efforts, health and wellbeing, and the future of green careers.

Pupils will have the opportunity to creatively showcase the fantastic sustainability work taking place within their settings through engaging, fun and interactive activities led by themselves.

Attendees will also take part in meaningful discussions with expert panellists, exploring topics including environmental sustainability, the connection between climate and health, and pathways into emerging green careers.

We look forward to welcoming all participating schools and celebrating the innovation, passion and leadership being demonstrated by young people in driving positive environmental change.

If you were unable to secure a place and would like to join the reserve list

book here

Bang in Some Beans – Autumn 2026

This programme helps schools and caterers to increase beans in schools, and parents to increase fibre consumption at home from September 2026.

Veg Power is on a mission to increase the UK’s veg, fruit and bean consumption and has revealed details of its Bang in Some Beans schools’ programme for primary and special schools launching in Autumn 2026. It has also urged caterers and schools to join them to help improve dietary health.

Focusing on fibre, as a topic to capture parents’ attention, the programme will support increased bean and pulse uptake with Veg Power pledging to help schools and caterers to increase more bean-based meals on the menu from this September.

Register your interest

Click here

To find out

Click here

Download the schools briefing

Click here

Illegal Tobacco and Vapes - information for front line professionals

This webinar, is aimed at anyone working with communities in West Yorkshire and will cover:

Up-to-date facts, research and statistics about vaping and smoking;
Information on other, 'up-and-coming' nicotine products;
How to recognise illegal tobacco and vapes;
The potential contents and health risks of illicit vapes;
The links to organised criminality and associated safeguarding risks;
Details of work being done by West Yorkshire Trading Standards and partners;
What you can do to help;
Details of further resources and support

The session will be delivered by Kerry Holmes, Illicit Tobacco Education Officer for West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

All registered participants will receive a Teams link before the event and the slides and a digital resource pack afterwards.

To book

click here

Free: Youth Education Service (YES) – Smoking, Vaping, Alcohol, Drugs & Gambling

The Youth Education Service delivered by Step2 and trusted partners, combines specialist expertise in vaping, drugs and alcohol and gambling education to promote harm reduction

Schools can now book structured education sessions for Years 5–13 covering vaping, smoking, alcohol, drugs and gambling.

To book a session email info@step2.org.uk

Free 1 hour poverty workshop

40% of children in Bradford are living below the poverty line.

A free one hour workshop session delivered by Living Well Schools covering the Bradford context of poverty and how poverty impacts education and health. Workshop Aims & Objectives:

Defining poverty:

To look at the Bradford context of poverty
To consider how poverty impacts education and health
To understand the impact that poverty has on the school day
To look at the current support your school provides to help alleviate the impact of poverty on the school day.

To look at what further support your school could potentially do or provide to help alleviate the impact of poverty further on the school day.

One of the outcomes of the workshop will be an opportunity for your school to work closely with your Living Well Lead to action plan and ultimately implement some of the recommendations highlighted in the workshop.

What teaching staff have said they learned from accessing the workshop:

“How poverty can have an impact on a child’s school day”

“Different things schools can do to help children suffering from poverty”

“How much we already do as a school!”

“What more we could do that would be simple to implement but very effective”

For more information please click on the link

here

or contact your school lead or contact Paul Croston (Living Well Schools Lead for Poverty) on

paul.croston@bradford.gov.uk

Feed Bellies Not Bins: A Toolkit

The ultimate food waste toolkit for schools. Cut waste, boost savings, feed more children well.

Reducing food waste is one of the most practical ways to improve school food. When less ends up in the bin, more of your budget goes straight onto the plate, supporting better ingredients, more scratch cooking, and meals pupils actually want to eat.

This toolkit brings together proven ideas from our expert chef trainers, developed in partnership with Hubbub and Eat It Up Fund, to help you reduce waste, save money, and build a better food culture across your school.

The resource pack has everything you need from top tips and recipes to checklists and case studies, this resource is your one-stop-shop for tackling food waste head on in your school.

Download the full resource pack

here

National Walking Month: Step Into Spring on Your Journey to School

Walking to school or work isn’t just good for your health, it’s one of the simplest ways to boost your energy, clear your mind, and start the day feeling ready for anything. This May, as we celebrate National Walking Month, we’re encouraging all school staff, parents and children across Bradford to take those extra steps and enjoy the benefits of travelling on foot.

Even a short walk can make a big difference. Regular walking has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase overall wellbeing, something everyone deserves. It’s also a brilliant way to contribute to cleaner air and calmer streets around our schools.

To give your motivation an extra boost you can use the BetterPoints app, a free reward programme that turns your walking into points you can redeem for vouchers or donate to local charities. Simply download the app, track your journeys, and start earning.

If you are a staff member and would like more support with staff wellbeing for your school, then please contact or Living Well Workplace lead at

darrel.lamont@bradford.gov.uk

Nature Discovery Week, 29 June - 3 July 2026

Head outside with your class and explore with one or more of the National Education Nature Park's nature surveys. Count pollinators, record grassland plants or observe species with iNaturalist. Every observation your learners make builds a national picture of nature across school grounds, which until now has been a bit of a mystery. This picture is vital information - it allows you to make the most of your outdoor space by making evidence-based decisions, while working with Natural History Museum scientists to conduct groundbreaking research into nature recovery.

Plus, this isn't a one-off. You can do the same surveys year after year and watch the story unfold, seeing first-hand how your efforts through the Nature Park are transforming local wildlife, and tracking your setting's impact alongside schools across England.

Nature Discovery Week is a chance to be part of something bigger. Together, schools, nurseries and colleges across England have the power to make a real, measurable difference to our planet, and it all starts with stepping outside. We've also got some special digital badges you can download for each survey that you do during the week!

To take part

click here

Opening School Facilities: 26th June 2026, 1-3pm, Green Lane Primary

Green Lane will provide insights into the ideas and methods conducted to open school facilities to support community physical activity provision. It will consider the use of funding to support change, alongside low-to-no cost solutions.

sign uphere

Improving School Food:

Putting Research into Practice

Request for a school observational visit to help shape school food research

The University of York is leading a project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to identify the main food policy challenges in secondary schools. This work is focused on making school food healthier and fairer for every student. While there is a lot of support for healthy eating in primary schools, many students find it harder to eat well once they move to secondary school. My goal is to change this by creating a major new research project that focuses on the issues that matter most to schools.

To make sure this work is realistic, I am currently collaborating with Bradford Council’s Public Health team. A central part of this project involves visiting secondary schools to observe canteens during lunchtime and speaking directly with the experts on the ground: catering leads and school leadership teams.

Meeting with school staff and observing the food environment first-hand ensures that any future research or policy suggestions are context-sensitive, feasible, and address the real-world challenges schools face. By listening to those who deal with the school food system every day, I can ensure this research doesn't just sit on a shelf but actually helps local leaders improve student health and wellbeing.

These observational visits are a vital first step in building research that is practical, impactful, and designed to work in a busy school setting. If you would like to be involved, I would love to hear from you!

Please get in touch via email:

sundus.mahdi@york.ac.uk

Have your say on the free staff CPD offer for next year

Following the launch of our pilot staff CPD (Continuing Professional Development) offer for school staff in 2025/26, we are keen to bring you even better free training opportunities in September 2026. To support the planning of this training we are asking you to take ten minutes to complete our feedback questionnaire. Use the link or QR code below to access the questionnaire.

If you attended any of our staff CPD sessions this year, please provide honest feedback on what went well and what could be better next time. If you did not attend any sessions, we still value your input in helping us to shape the offer for next year.

To complete the form click this link or scan the QR code:

Living Well Schools - Staff CPD 2025/26 Evaluation – Fill in form

iKids Mobile Phone Study

Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University are seeking your support to expand the reach of the iKids Study.

This research examines how smartphone and tablet use affects children’s development and health, with the goal of creating better national guidance for parents and professionals.

They are recruiting 874 three-year-olds (aged 36–47 months) across Yorkshire and beyond.

Who: Children who use digital devices (tablets and smartphones) and those who do not (excluding those with diagnosed developmental disorders).
Commitment: Families are invited to take part now and again when the child turns four.
Incentives: To thank families for their time, children receive certificates and rewards, and families receive two £50 vouchers (£100 total) for their full participation

Contact: iKids Research Team

Professor Liane Azevedo (Chief Investigator)

Dr. Colette Marr & Dr. Amy Hughes (Project Managers)

Email: ikids@shu.ac.uk

Website: www.ikidsstudy.com

Archbishop Young Leaders Award

Archbishops' Young Leaders Awards through free online sessions.

AYLA continues to grow across schools and dioceses nationwide, equipping children and young people to become courageous, compassionate leaders who are empowered to make a difference within their communities and beyond. Rooted in the Church of England Vision for Education, the programme develops leadership, character, pupil voice, and meaningful social action through engaging and accessible resources for pupils from KS1 through to Post-16.

Schools delivering AYLA consistently report increased confidence, deeper pupil engagement, stronger opportunities for student leadership, and meaningful links to Personal Development, SIAMS, SMSC, and collective worship. At its heart, AYLA encourages young people to recognise that leadership is not reserved for a select few but is something that can be lived out through service, courage, hope, and action.

Whether schools are already delivering the programme or are simply curious to find out more, our upcoming webinars provide a fantastic opportunity to explore the resources, hear about the impact in schools, and ask any questions about implementation.

Upcoming webinars:

Primary Webinars:

17^th June 2026 - 3:45pm

1^st July 2026 - 3:45pm

13^th August - 1:15pm

Secondary Webinars:

24^th June 2026 - 3:45pm

2^nd July 2026 - 3:45pm

12^th August - 1:15pm