Healthy Schools Report

Name of School:     St Michael’s Primary                            

Date of Visit: Tuesday 6^th May 2008      

Visitors: Gillian Gyenes, Sue Pike, David Bradwell                         

CONGRATULATIONS

Your school has achieved the new National Healthy School Status. Thank you for making the arrangements for a successful visit.

Comments on the Visit

In this report, we have provided a selection of the many examples of good practice we saw during our visit, listed under the four themes of the National Healthy Schools Programme in Berkshire . 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work and hospitality and we look forward to seeing you in three years time when the award will be reviewed.

           Report Compiled By:  Sue Pike and Gillian Gyenes                                

Date of Report: May 2008

WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH

The school has worked extremely hard to achieve National Healthy Schools status. Congratulations are also due for the very comprehensive way in which the online audit was completed. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with two pupils from year 6 who were very informative and enjoyed sharing their experiences of being in St Michael’s. It was a joy to meet staff, pupils, parents and members of the school council from both key stages who were all very knowledgeable and enjoyed discussing the school and their successes. The school believes in celebrating the achievements and successes of all pupils and we observed an engaging and thought provoking assembly with each class giving a small presentation on what they had been learning within SEAL lessons. This highlighted believing in yourself, turning your worries into something positive, never giving up and trying not to be influenced by peer pressure. There is a very positive , valued and committed ethos through the school which manifests itself in happy, well motivated pupils and staff. It was ggod to see staff taking part in the Assembly by recommending their own pupils as ‘stars’ of the week.

Parents talked about the school being very friendly. They had good feedback from their own children. There is a lot of support and staff are very approachable. Coffee mornings are held for parents once a term and there is a very active PTA. Communications are good via the website and weekly newsletter. There are also Church links and in general a ‘family atmosphere’ throughout the school.

AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT

The school should continue all it does in order to maintain and build on its well deserved success.

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION

The school gives a high priority to PSHE, incorporating strong links to the SEAL initiative. The subject leader is currently the headteacher who offers good support and leadership to her staff. The school council, chaired by pupils are an enthusiastic group of pupils who have contributed well to decision making, they have been involved in staff interviews and changes to school uniform. Each class can feed into the school council agenda and they feel pupil voice is highly effective and valued. Pupils feel confident that adults will praise and respect their ideas, that they will take them seriously and value all contributions.

Environmentally, the School Gardening Club is supported by parents. They belong to  ‘Schools for Gardening’ (RHS) and the Breeding Places Club and are hoping to have a water butt in place shortly.

Areas for Development

A member of staff to attend the PSHE CPD training September 2008.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The school has given a high priority to PE and sport with the PE Subject Leader ensuring that the school meets the requirements for a minimum of 2 hours structured physical activity each week. Pupils enjoy participating in a wide range of physical activities and clubs including netball, football, cricket and dance. The PE Subject Leader has good links with their School Sport

Co-ordinator from Sandhurst Secondary School . Kickstart has proved a popular new initiative with young year 6 leaders taking the lead. The school also participates in festivals run by the School Sport Programme and the Young People in Sport programme giving the majority of pupils an opportunity to participate in competition. There are many opportunities for playground activities with the basketball ring and the climbing traverse wall despite only having the field in the summer. The school celebrates its achievements with trophies being displayed in the corridor. PE and sport is also celebrated in assemblies with pupils able to share their successes. PE CPD opportunities are encouraged for staff with these being discussed during staff meetings.

The School Travel Plan has been much discussed and the school, parents and governors, are working closely with the Local Authority on this. Parking has always been a great difficulty but alternative safer areas have now been identified and the parents are being encouraged to use these. Walking to school is also being encouraged.

Areas for Development

To develop a Physical Activity policy and to finalise the School Travel Plan

HEALTHY EATING

The school has worked with considerable effort to promote healthy eating options and is rightly proud in offering healthy snacks at breaktimes and lunchtimes, with the new meals contractor. The Headteacher oversees the Healthy Food Policy which has promoted the benefits of healthy options and has engaged the support of the whole school community. One possible area of change is celebrating pupils birthdays with children now encouraged not to bring in sweets to share but to wear special clothes on their birthday instead. School meals are becoming more popular and the servers encourage good behaviour with staff frequently joining pupils in the hall. Fresh water is always available and the children are encouraged to bring in their own water bottles and drink from them regularly. The after school cookery club is very popular with the pupils giving plenty of opportunity to discuss healthy options. This club is run by a very enthusiastic and knowledgable class teacher.

Areas for Development                      

To continue monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Healthy Food Policy throughout all aspects of school life.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Staff are encouraged and enabled to develop their skills further through training. The school ensures that there is a programme for teaching social and emotional skills to pupils and SEAL is now the main focus for the school’s assemblies. Pupils’ voice is heard through the school council who represent the opinions of their peers. Questionnaires have also been used to gain the views of pupils plus pupils have been asked for their input to an anti- bullying policy and a parent group has helped to produce a draft that is being sent out for consultation. Pupils know who to approach within the school when they have any difficulties or problems and feel confident that they will be taken seriously.  The school buddies programme is well established, the pupils we met felt that their involvement has made a difference in playground incidents and reducing them and providing other activities for the pupils. The school has a celebration assembly with pupils being able to share their achievements. Special Needs children are well catered for and there are good links with outside agencies where appropriate, including School Nurses.

Areas for Development

To review policies and build upon the benefits already accrued through the SEAL programme.