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Spring term 2025
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Welcome to the sixth edition of the Dudley Healthy Schools Update. The aim of this termly update is to provide schools with information to support the healthy schools agenda, covering areas such as:
- training opportunities
- resources and guidance
- services for children and young people and their families
- sharing good practice
- other organisation/partner updates
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The children and young peoples public health team produces a termly update for children and families, which provides information about what’s available to support their health and wellbeing.
To ensure this information reaches as many families as possible, we are asking all schools to share this update with parents/carers via your normal communication methods, e.g. school newsletter, email, app, website. The update can be used as an online or printed resource.
If you have any questions, email the team at cypteam@dudley.gov.uk
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Dudley Public Health & Wellbeing's website, Healthy Dudley, replaces the previous Let's Get website and makes it easier to find health and wellbeing information using the new search function. You can find information to support healthy pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescent health in the Starting Well pages. There is lots of information on living and ageing well, as well as how to protect your health, support services and guidance for coping with bereavement.
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The Healthy Dudley website has a professionals area where schools and other organisations can access information about services, referrals, training, guidance and resources to support the health and wellbeing of the children and young people they work with. We hope you find this helpful.
Visit the Healthy Dudley Professionals Area and log in using the password:
Dudley1
Please contact cypteam@dudley.gov.uk if you have any feedback or suggestions for content you would like to see added.
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The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has produced school feedback letters personalised for each school that took part in the 2022/23 programme. The letters include non-identifiable aggregated NCMP data relating to:
- school and England participation rates
- school, local authority and England overweight and obesity prevalence rates
These confidential letters have been shared directly with the head teacher at each primary school. If your school has not received the letter, please email cypteam@dudley.gov.uk
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The Children and Young Peoples Public Health team is undertaking a review of school meals provision across schools in Dudley. Thank you to those schools which have already completed the survey.
Please can all primary schools and special schools take 2 minutes to complete the short survey before the closing date on Friday 14 February 2025.
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This Body You See: A video created by local young people for young people
Dudley Young Health Champions have worked in partnership with Cranstoun, Here4YOUth to create a video called This Body You See, which talks about the importance of consent.
The video is a useful resource that can support the delivery of RSHE lessons in school, covering healthy relationships and consent.
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Dudley Public Health is continuing to subsidise schools' memberships to the PSHE Association.
Schools are required to purchase annual membership themselves. Schools can then claim back £50 towards their membership from Dudley Public Health. This subsidy is only guaranteed until the end of March 2025.
To claim this funding, schools need to submit an invoice for £50 and proof of purchase to cypteam@dudley.gov.uk
The annual cost of membership per school is currently £145 and this provides access for all staff.
Members of the PSHE Association have full access to a library of quality downloadable resources that help them develop and improve their practice, with specific content that relates to teaching children with SEND.
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Connex Academy is the new home of the Dog, Duck & Cat Trust resources, which are the free endorsed resources available to your school. NB: When you register and sign in to the PSHE Hub, the Children and Young Peoples Public Health Team at Dudley Council has not scrutinised all of the training that may be available to you via Connex Academy.
For further information, download the PSHE Hub flyer.
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Dudley Public Health is once again subsidising schools and colleges to have Loudmouth’s theatre in education programmes to support your RSHE.
Primary schools offer:
Primary schools may choose any of the following programmes (one year group per programme):
Helping Hands on staying safe, for year 5 or 6 (schools only pay 25%).
Bully 4 U on anti-bullying, for year 3, 4, 5, or 6 (schools only pay 60%).
My Mate Fancies You on puberty and transitions, for Year 5 or 6 (schools only pay 90%).
Under The Radar - Press & Play, pre-recorded lesson on knife crime and county lines for year 5 and/or 6, (schools only pay £25 + VAT).
Secondary schools/colleges offer:
Settings may choose up to 3 subsidised programmes from the following (one year group per programme):
Trust Me on sexual health for year 8 upwards (one year group only) - settings only pay 25%.
Calling It Out on harmful sexual behaviours for year 9 upwards – settings only pay 25%.
Working For Marcus on child exploitation including child sexual exploitation and county lines for year 8 upwards (one year group only) - settings only pay 35%.
Safe & Sound on abuse in teenage relationships for year 8 upwards (one year group only) - settings only pay 35%.
Talking Heads on mental wellbeing for year 7, 8 or 9 (one year group only) - settings only pay 35% (only available in Spring term onwards).
Bully 4 U on bullying and online safety for year 8 upwards (one year group only) - settings only pay 60%.
For further information email laura.kings@loudmouth.co.uk or call 0121 446 4880
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The Violence Reduction Partnership’s REAL programme is a ‘Train the Trainer’ session, which covers exploitation (county lines, grooming, social media, consent, knife crime, gangs, etc).
The session is 60 - 90 minutes long and can be delivered to school staff either via MS Teams or face-to-face. Staff that attend the session will receive a log-in and password to enable access to the REAL portal, which provides a suite of interactive resources and videos that can be used to support relevant RSHE lessons or engagement work with parents. There is no set structure on how the resources and videos should be used. A menu of options is provided to choose from, which allows schools to build their own programme based on their students’ needs.
Some of the videos use real-life scenarios from the West Midlands, using local actors and/or the voice of the victims. Where necessary there are trigger warnings in place. The REAL programme is funded by the Home Office, which means there is no charge for schools to receive the training or access to the resources.
If you are interested in booking a training session for your staff or would like some further information, email Claire Delaney, VRP Intervention & Training Facilitator claire.delaney@westmidlands.police.uk
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After a successful pilot scheme in 2023, Dudley’s Community Toothbrush Scheme has been relaunched in 2024 and 2025, providing free toothbrush packs to children and families in need in Dudley borough.
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In 2024/2025 the scheme has launched in the following settings:
- Primary schools and early years settings in the most deprived areas of the borough, with the highest tooth decay rates
- All 5 family hubs
- Community partner organisations i.e. libraries, foodbanks, religious places of worship
- 16 community pharmacies - for electively home educated children, children in care, asylum seekers and refugees
- SEND schools
Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England, yet it is largely preventable. Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is so important to protect both children and adult’s teeth. In difficult financial times, taking care of your teeth may slip down the list of priorities when compared with food and warmth. Through this scheme Dudley Council is supporting families to care for their children’s teeth from as soon as a child has their first tooth.
For more information, visit the Dudley’s community toothbrush scheme page on Healthy Dudley.
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Kooth offers free therapeutic support to young people between the ages of 11 to 18 in Dudley. We are NHS-commissioned and BACP-accredited. In addition to professional support, we also have a range of resources designed to support emotional wellbeing and building valuable life skills. This means you can signpost any student to Kooth as an additional, or only, means of wellbeing support. They simply sign themselves up anonymously on the Kooth website.
Primary school offer to whole year groups:
- Year 6 SATs 30-minute assembly
- Year 6 Transition to Secondary School 30-minute assembly
Secondary school/college offer to whole year groups:
- 20-minute Kooth assembly
- We can offer extended 30-minute assemblies with tailored topics e.g. exam stress, anxiety and more. Please email us for more information.
This offer is free and no cost to your school. For further information or bookings, please email Indi at isokhey@kooth.com
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Brook Dudley provides an all age integrated sexual health service in Dudley.
This local service provides free, confidential sexual health services, including access to contraception, STI testing, emergency contraception and more.
Secondary schools should raise awareness of this service to students in RSE lessons, where appropriate. Slides can be downloaded from the Healthy Dudley Workforce Area to support the promotion of this service. Log in using the password: Dudley1
Brook can offer Dudley secondary schools outreach sessions, which will include sexual health advice and guidance and C-card/condom distribution to help prevent teenage pregnancies and STIs.
For further information, please contact Jane McNally jane.mcnally@brook.org.uk
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Visit the Healthy Dudley website and log in using the password: Dudley1 for more information about how education settings can help to promote vaccinations and reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Contact the Health Protection team for advice and support directly at communicable.disease@dudley.gov.uk
Please ensure this information is shared with parents and carers.
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Food - a fact of life is delivering the following webinars for schools this term.
Food - a fact of life is run and managed by the British Nutrition Foundation.
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The Eatwell Guide - an in-depth look at healthy eating and nutrition
12 February 2025, 4.30 - 5.15pm
Key audience: Secondary teachers
Join them for a more in depth look at the Eatwell Guide, healthy eating and the impact of nutrition on health and society. Find out more.
Adverse reactions to food and the management of allergies in the classroom
12 March 2025, 4.30 - 5.15pm
Open to all!
Join Bridget and Frances as they highlight adverse reactions to food and the management of allergens in the classroom. Find out more.
Visit the website to find out more about the Food - a fact of life education programme.
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Bring your students to Sycamore Adventure, the premier destination for school visits in Dudley! Our adventure centre is designed to offer a safe, inclusive, and dynamic environment where children of all abilities can thrive. Whether your students are in mainstream education or have special needs, Sycamore Adventure provides tailored experiences that make learning through play accessible and fun for everyone.
Our experienced and qualified staff are dedicated to creating engaging, sensory-rich activities that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and foster social interaction. From climbing and creative play to sensory gardens and interactive zones, there’s something to captivate every child’s imagination.
Sycamore Adventure isn’t just a place to play—it’s a place to learn, grow and build confidence. Our carefully designed programmes ensure that each visit is more than just a trip; it’s an opportunity for children to discover new skills, make friends, and create lasting memories.
Book your school’s visit today and see why Sycamore Adventure is a top choice for educators across the region. Give your students the gift of adventure and watch them thrive in an environment that celebrates diversity, inclusion and the joy of discovery.
Spaces fill up quickly, so don’t miss out — schedule your visit now and let Sycamore Adventure be the highlight of your school year!
https://www.sycamoreadventure.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/adventureplay/
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Dudley Stroke Association can deliver stroke awareness and prevention sessions to primary school pupils.
The project is primarily aimed at year 4 pupils, although it can be delivered to all age groups. The sessions work well in class groups rather than year groups as this allows for more interaction and participation.
The sessions are approximately 45-minutes long and cover the following:
- What is a stroke – recognising signs and symptoms of stroke – BE FAST message
- What questions call operators will ask when dialling 999
- Supporting someone into the recovery position
- How to reduce risk of stroke and how to stay healthy
The sessions are fun and engaging for the children, and they will all receive stroke-related goodies.
If you are interested in booking a session or require further information, please contact Louise at louise@dudleystrokeassociation.org.uk or 01384 271982 / 07955 130479
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Download the latest guide to the RSHE support package Dudley Council (along with other local and national organisations) is offering education settings in Dudley.
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The Swimming Teachers Association and Swim Wales have published a comprehensive briefing note providing guidance to support the safe operation of temporary ‘pop-up’ swimming pools.
Swim England is encouraging all operators of temporary pools to carefully review and implement the new guidance.
Schools are urged to verify that any pop-up swimming pool facility they use adheres to these essential requirements and take appropriate enforcement action where this is not the case.
For further details read the briefing note on the use of temporary ‘pop-up’ swimming pools.
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 As part of the Black Country Water Safety Programme there are free water safety resources for teachers to download including lesson plans, practical activities and interactive videos to support the delivery of water safety lessons at your school.
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Staff training
RSHE training
Places are still available on the following How to Deliver Relationship & Sex Education courses
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Training
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How to Deliver Relationship & Sex Education (RSE) (Secondary phase)
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Date and time
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Monday 3 March 2025, 1 – 3.15pm
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Delivery method
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Online via MS Teams
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Aimed at
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Secondary phase staff, school nurses
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Funded by
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Dudley Council
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Training provider
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Health & Wellbeing in Schools
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How to book
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Complete this online booking form: https://forms.office.com/e/vTqT77czdS
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Course outcomes
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·Explore elements of best practice in delivering high-quality Relationships & Sex Education (RSE), and understand the importance of effective RSE
·How to create a safe learning environment for students and staff and deliver an inclusive curriculum
·Increased awareness of local and national support services for children and young people
·Understanding of strategies to support safe and effective RSE practice, including techniques to manage questions and discussion
·Increased confidence in delivering RSE-based learning
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Training
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How to Deliver Relationship & Sex Education (RSE) (Primary phase)
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Date and time
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Thursday 6 March 2025, 1 – 3.15pm
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Delivery method
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Online via MS Teams
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Aimed at
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Primary phase staff, school nurses
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Funded by
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Dudley Council
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Training provider
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Health & Wellbeing in Schools
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How to book
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Complete this online booking form: https://forms.office.com/e/vTqT77czdS
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Course outcomes
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·Understand elements of best practice in delivering high-quality RSE, and the importance of effective RSE
·Understanding of strategies to support safe and effective RSE practice, including techniques to manage questions
·Increased awareness of local and national support services for children & young people
·Increased confidence in delivering RSE-based learning
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Free public health e-learning courses
Health Education England has created quality assured online training programmes, developed in partnership with the NHS, third sector and professional bodies. These courses can be accessed online for free, vary in length, and can be completed at your own pace.
Available e-learning courses cover a wide variety of topics to support professional development. They include bite-sized introductions to childhood obesity, healthy eating, child oral health, sexual health, substance misuse and many more.
Visit the Healthy Dudley professionals area and log in with password Dudley1 for further information.
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If you have feedback on how we can improve this e-bulletin or any specific information you would like to see included, please email the children and young peoples public health team.
cypteam@dudley.gov.uk
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