Manod School achieves the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes National Quality Award

Manod Primary School, Blaenau Ffestiniog, has become the first school in Gwynedd to achieve the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes National Quality Award.

It is one of only 15 schools throughout Wales to achieve this prestigious award.

The Head Teacher, Mrs Carys Jones, has been highly commended for her leadership in ensuring that the Healthy Schools Scheme is integrated wholly within the school and its community.

The National Assessor stated that the courtesy and respect pupils showed to one another, and the respect they demonstrated to members of the wider school community was commendable.

He also stated that: “Manod Primary School has successfully embeded the ethos of the Healthy Schools Scheme in all areas of school life and that it is truly an exemplar school.”

Manod Primary School has fostered strong links within the community it serves. Parents and governors are enthusiastic, well-informed and knowledgeable of the Healthy School Scheme.

Over the past decade parents have seen positive change in behaviours and lifestyles of children and their families. This is strong testimony to the overall value of the Healthy Schools Scheme and the way in which members of the wider community have engaged with it.

PROMOTING EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The Gwynedd Healthy Schools Scheme and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) joined forces to arrange a successful conference to promote mental health of primary children within the county.

The scheme gives priority to promoting emotional and mental health of children and young people.

The conference, at the Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon, was an opportunity to share good practice and to provide information to schools on initiatives to promote mental and emotional wellbeing of primary children.

The key note speaker, Scott Quinnell, former Wales and British Lions rugby player gave a passionate speech on his experience of living with dyslexia and how it affected his childhood and his adult life.

The event was organised by Judith Roberts, the Gwynedd Healthy Schools coordinator, Public Health Wales, and Irfon Williams, the service manager for CAMHS.

Mr Williams said: "We aim to reduce stigma and raise awareness related to mental health and this was an ideal opportunity to relay those messages. Some of the schools have already expressed an interest in delivering early intervention programmes presented at the conference in collaboration with the Healthy Schools Scheme and the Specialist CAMHS Service."

Ms Roberts said: "Evidence suggests that if children are happy and have good self-esteem they will learn better and are more likely to make informed choices as regards to their health."

(Report in April 29, 2010 edition)