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Importance of access to breakfast and water
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Mood-boosting physical activities videos available
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Free knife safety workshop
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Share your views on the School Wellbeing Service
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Cost of living and food support for families
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All the dates you need for this half term
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Little Angels Highbury
Minik Kardes
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St Augustine's
COLA Highgate Hill |
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 Welcome to our December/January health and wellbeing newsletter with lots in store for a healthy start to the new year.
As we start the new year, there are relatively high levels of winter illnesses circulating. Attached is an update from Public Health shared with Headteachers on Tuesday 3 January about managing these illnesses in school. Don't forget, if your school has not yet had at least 2 flu immunisation dates, please do book your follow-up date/s with Vaccination UK Islington@v-uk.co.uk. Please also encourage families who may have missed the flu vaccination in school to get it at a catch-up clinic.
Wishing you a safe, healthy and happy start to the new year.
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Teaching primary food and nutrition
Teaching food and nutrition in primary schools can still cause obstacles for school to achieve their healthy school status although it is now compulsory part of the primary school curriculum. In Islington, we expect primary schools to provide three cooking opportunities for all pupils each year. Islington's Cooking Matters Toolkit sets out how to achieve that and provides a very useful overview of how to set up the classroom and provides recipes to ensure that pupils develop the skills to cook a simple meal by the time they leave primary school.
There is now a new, free professional development programme available for UK primary school teachers and teaching assistants. The programme provides audit and reflection tools, offers free online workshops and signposts key information to support your personal CPD journey.
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Support for breakfast clubs in schools
If your breakfast club is not already with the national school breakfast club programme, Magic Breakfast or Greggs, you are able to apply for the National School Breakfast Club.
Schools joining the school breakfast club programme will be provided with bagels, a selection of cereals and porridge. The school will be required to source its own fruit and/or vegetable to meet the statutory standards for school food.
All participating schools will receive a 75% subsidy for the food and delivery costs of breakfast club provision until the end of July 2024. Schools still contribute 25% of costs. All pupils in participating schools are to be offered breakfast supplies at no cost to them or their parents.
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Water only schools survey
Water is a the cheapest, most widely available, healthy drink available. There is a push for schools to become water only schools. Greater London Authority are carrying out a survey (7 simple questions) to ascertain the number of schools that are water only schools, it would be great if you could complete the survey.
If you are not already but would like to become water only, Marjon can support you or you can refer to the Water Only Schools.
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The Daily Mile
The Daily Mile is simple and free; class teachers take their class outside every day for 15 minutes to run, jog or walk around a designated route and return to class feeling refreshed, energised and ready to learn.
Watch this video to see the Daily Mile in action in a school with limited space Eliud visit
Here is the latest ITV advert on the Daily Mile New ITV Advert.
Arsenal in the Community offer
Islington schools also have the opportunity to take up the opportunity to complete their Daily Mile around the outside of the Emirates Stadium and then take part in a football coaching session at the Arsenal HUB, all completely free!
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MOODBOOSTERS - physical activity videos to support pupils mental health and wellbeing
BBC Children in Need and children’s mental health charity stormbreak have developed a series of fun, simple and interactive classroom activities to get your class moving for mental and physical health and wellbeing.
The physical activity videos explore 4 different themes;
Connect - the importance of having fun, building relationships, and recognising pupils' value and worth.
Boost - benefits of moving your body and help pupils bounce back from challenges they might face.
Recharge - help pupils to be aware of their emotional triggers and how to respond to them in helpful ways.
Imagine - nurturing imagination, trying new things, be brave and have dreams and goals.
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FREE Dance CPD for Islington primary school staff, Monday 6 February
Monday 6 February 2023, 2pm – 4.30pm, Arts and Media School Islington will host the second CPD session of the Islington Dance Network.
No experience or previous attendance is necessary. Sessions are designed to be equally progressive for new and returning learners.
Learning outcomes;
- Developing new teaching approaches, techniques and ideas for delivering curricular and extra-curricular dance
- Creating movement for specific key stages (EYFS, KS1, KS2)
- Network with primary school colleagues
- Linking dance to other curricular topics
Plus, Each attending school will receive a planning and resource pack
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PSHE education (including RSHE) |
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Start 2023 with a free embracing difference project for your school
Diversity Role Models (DRM) a LGBT+ charity with a vision of a world where everybody embraces diversity and thrives. DRM has been selected by the DfE to deliver a programme to empower schools to take a stand against all forms of bullying and embed protected characteristics.
DRM will work with your school for up to three years, supplying training, interventions and resources, so staff have the knowledge and skills to tackle and prevent bullying and create inclusive cultures.
This will be anchored in training and underpinned by reviewing and updating school policies and processes and implementing them, so all stakeholders understand them and can act on bullying.
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Tackling knife crime through education - free safety workshop
This award-winning exhibition is free for Islington schools - take your pupils along to experience this knife crime prevention and safety workshop.
Interactive experiences enable pupils to follow the journey of both the victim and the offender. They take part in quizzes, immersive theatre, role play and activities, designed to teach them how their choices can lead to positive consequences. The experience debunks the myth that carrying a knife will protect and explores making choices to stay safe.
The Ben Kinsella Trust is one of the leading anti-knife crime charities in the UK, set up following the tragic murder of Ben Kinsella in 2008, and believes in prevention through education. By adopting a universal and early intervention approach it aims to prevent young people from making the wrong choices and therefore helping them to stay safe.
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Hand in hand addressing worry and safeguarding in PSHE - free resources
Planned PSHE lessons make a big difference to children's by providing a safe space and structured activities for discussion about issues including worry, anxiety and staying safe. See the health and wellbeing lessons in You, Me, PSHE. Also see What to do about worry for year 6 pupils, providing practical actions to take if worried. This resource contains interactive activities featuring an engaging video and a ‘relaxation station'.
Topics include:
Y1 – Feeling safe(personal safety, private parts, good and bad touches) and feelings
Y2 – Indoors and outdoors(safety rules, benefits and risks of online, assessing safety) and friendship
Y3 – Bullying, including cyberbullying(bystanders, putdowns, what to do), strengths and challenges
Y4 – Growing up and changing (puberty, stereotypes, privacy, feelings, scenarios)
Y5 – Safer choices(online safety, reporting abuse, violence in relationships) and feelings
Year 6 - Healthy relationships and mental health(values, consent and self-care).
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Mental health and wellbeing |
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Please complete the SWS school staff survey before the end of January!
As part of developing our offer, the School Wellbeing Service is gathering feedback from school staff via a survey.
Please complete this short survey (8 questions) and share with your fellow teaching and support staff colleagues. We would like to gather as many people’s understanding of the service as possible, including those people who don’t know much about our offer, so we can improve.
Many thanks for your support in this. You are helping to improve our service offer and the mental health provision for our children and young people in Islington.
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Happier January calendar!
As we start a new year, sometimes we can feel pressure to make lots of big changes to support our wellbeing, which can often feel overwhelming. However, often small actions done regularly can have a big impact! The Happier January calendar has short, daily actions and ideas to help you start the new year happier, such as taking a few moments to sit and breathe and contacting an old friend. Why not share with others and inspire them too?
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Families for Life (FFL) Family Kitchen
Family Kitchen is our most popular programme. Parents and children learn to cook and eat together. Parents are always amazed when their child will try new foods they normally don't eat.
Schools can engage with Family Kitchen by encouraging families to sign up or to refer families to a programme when there is a concern about the child's diet, their weight or the family's engagement with school in general.
Schools can run a 5 to 6-week Family Kitchen programme at their site by sending relevant staff on the one-day training on Friday 6 January (see training section below) or by emailing the FFL team if someone at the school is trained already. Cost of ingredients are covered for schools.
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Do you know anyone who would make a great Families for Life Community Champion?
We’re looking for inspirational volunteers to encourage families in Islington to get active and eat well. The Families for Life programme offers free healthy eating and active play activities for families with children aged 2 to 11.
Volunteers should be Islington residents, be committed to improving the health of their community and available to volunteer two to three hours a week.
Community Champions will learn about health and wellbeing. They will have access to free training and ongoing support. It’s a great opportunity for them to meet new people, improve their communication skills and boost their confidence. Training starts in February 2023.
If this sounds like someone you know please ask them to complete the application form
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Borrow books to support a child's mental health
Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
The books are available to borrow from local libraries. Selected titles are also available to borrow as e-books and audiobooks. Visit your local library website to find out how to join the library and access books electronically.
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Cost of living and food support in Islington
The price of energy, food and bills are all rising and many families will be experiencing financial insecurity and worries. There are services and advice that can help, some which depend on your circumstances. The cost of living support website covers benefits and support, money and debt advice, energy, help with childcare costs, and warm community spaces in Islington.
In Islington there are also a variety of options available for families experiencing food insecurity, including foodbanks, food co-ops and free lunches. For the most up to date information, including Christmas opening hours when relevant, see Islington food partnership website.
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Staying safe in the dark
With the darker mornings and early evenings, it's more important than ever to stay safe when out and about in the dark.
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Families for Life taste education training
Wednesday 11 January, 12:30 - 2:30 at 222 Upper Street, N1 1XR
Taste education is a system to provide the opportunity for children to explore fruit and vegetables with all their senses. Many early years and schools in Islington are using taste education within their curriculum. This training provides an opportunity to expand this work to your work with parents and families.
Health and wellbeing hub
24 January: drop in or book a slot between 1.30 and 5.30pm. We can meet with you virtually or in person at The Laycock Centre
The hub is funded by Public Health so is FREE to all Islington early years settings and schools – it is a time when the whole team is available so we can work with you on more than one aspect of your work: from PE and school sport to mental health, PSHE, healthy eating and food.
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The link between Mental Health and Obesity
Virtual, Thursday 26 January, 10-12 midday
This FREE webinar, delivered by Brandon Centre, explores the research around the bi-directional link between obesity and mental health and its importance for professionals supporting those who are above a healthy weight.
Sketchbook as Studio workshop
Thursday 26 January, 4-6pm, AMSI
Explore the possibilities of the sketchbook as a place for children and young people to experiment and research. This workshop is free to Islington educators and is programmed by Cubitt with Islington Council's Cultural Enrichment team.
Disordered Eating webinar series
Thursday 2 February 2023, 2.30-4pm - Improving referrals and supporting young people
Tuesday 28 February 2023, 2-3.30pm - Effective approaches and joint working
We will be running a webinar series on Disordered Eating in February 2023 to help families and professionals working with young people to better their understand disordered eating.
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"Positive language and routines" - NRC Outreach central training supporting students with SEMH/behaviour concerns
Second in a series of NRC Outreach central training opportunities for SENCOs, teachers and TAs. Further dates and session details available on booking form.
Full details will be provided once signed up.
Artists in Early Years workshop
Tuesday 21 February, 2-5pm, October Gallery 24 Old Gloucester Street, WC1N 3AL
Using October Gallery's exhibition as a starting point, explore how you can use a diversity of artists and artwork as starting points for creative learning in Early Years settings. This workshop is free to Islington educators and is programmed by Cubitt with Islington Council's Cultural Enrichment team.
Small Steps for Big Change training
Thursday 23 February, 9:30 - 12:30, venue tbc
Small Steps for Big Change training provides an overview of healthy weight, healthy life messages starting from birth to age 5, covering the different developmental stages relevant to feeding for babies and children. The training will also touch on topics such as sleep, physical activity and screen time.
Once completed the course, all attendees will have access to the resources to use with families they are in contact with to support families to make positive changes in their lives for themselves and their children.
Positive dining room environment
Friday 28 February, 2 - 3:30, virtual
Teaching and learning doesn’t stop at lunchtime. A pleasant and social dining room for pupils and staff can help make lunchtime a positive experience. This directly impacts on pupils choosing and eating a healthier lunch and how ready they are to learn in the afternoon. The design of the dining room is vital to the way it functions – pupil access, queuing, the way food is served and the system for clearing up should be carefully thought through. This training will give you the chance to consider the role of the lunchtime supervisor and the layout of the dining hall in your school.
Food growing network meeting
The food growing network meeting provides a great opportunity for staff at Islington schools and early years settings to share information, ask questions and network with other educational settings who do food growing at their setting. Please attend if you are interested in food growing or are an experienced food grower already. The network meeting is held at a school or early years setting and will include a tour of the growing site.
Creative Collaboration in Action workshop
Explore creative collaborative journeys with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This workshop is free to Islington educators and is programmed by Cubitt with Islington Council's Cultural Enrichment team.
Voluntary food and drink guidelines training
Thursday 16 March, 1 - 3pm, virtual
This training covers the importance of healthy food for the under 5s, what the statutory duty is as part of the early years foundation stage and what this looks like for meals and snacks served at the setting.
Menu workshop
Thursday 16 March, 3 - 4pm, virtual
The menu workshop is only suitable for staff who have attended the food and drink guidelines training on the same day or previously. It will be a supportive time to review your menu or start developing a new menu.
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For support and guidance please contact the health and wellbeing team, we are funded to work for free with Islington maintained schools, academies and free schools.
If you know somebody who would be interested in this newsletter, please forward it to them and ask them to subscribe.
We also have a newsletter for secondary schools, you can subscribe here.
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