Education: policy context
Government policy documents have made clear reference to how education improvements could deliver improvements in health. Towards A Healthier Scotland, the 1999 white paper on health, envisaged that action on life circumstances, including the provision of expanded pre-school education and better support for vulnerable families, would have many benefits, including better health. Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan 2007, which sets out the Government's programme to deliver a healthier Scotland, recognises education and skills among the factors underlying inequalities in health. The Scottish Government's major educational initiatives include: Curriculum for Excellence which focuses on children and young people aged 3 to 18 years, Scotland's Adult Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and support to families, children and young people with additional support needs.
Curriculum for Excellence has an important role to play in promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people and all of those in the educational communities to which they belong. Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.
Learning in health and wellbeing enables children and young people to:
- make informed decisions in order to improve their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
- experience challenge and enjoyment
- experience positive aspects of healthy living and activity for themselves
- apply their mental, emotional, social and physical skills to pursue a healthy lifestyle
- make a successful move to the next stage of education or work
- establish a pattern of health and wellbeing which will be sustained into adult life, and which will help to promote the health and wellbeing of the next generation of Scottish children.
Children's and young people's learning in health and wellbeing benefits strongly from partnership working between teachers and colleagues such as home link staff, health professionals, educational psychologists and sports coaches who can make complementary contributions through their specialist expertise and knowledge.
Education Scotland was established in 2011 as the key national body supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education and, in partnership with the full range of bodies and organisations active in the field of Scottish education, leads and supports the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.
Much has already been achieved to improve children's experiences of food in school with the implementation of 'Hungry for Success' and the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. The Health Promotion Guidance for local authorities and schools, as set out in the Act outlines the Government's expectations upon individuals, schools and local authorities for promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people.