Wellbeing should be timetabled in schools, says UK health provider
UK health provider Nuffield Health is suggesting that a “head of wellness” should be instated at schools across the country to teach children about wellness.
The idea of adding wellness onto the curriculum alongside Maths and English comes following a two-year pilot scheme at Wood Green Secondary School in Oxfordshire, UK.
A member of staff was assigned the role of head of wellness and was tasked with teaching children about mental health and wellbeing. 11 year-groups reported an improvement in energy and relaxation levels and an increased ability to deal with problems, as well as a 48% rise in average fruit consumption and 59% in vegetables, the study found.
Teachers also felt the benefit, with a “significant increase” on a scale used to measure wellbeing, as well as a 7% rise in average fruit consumption and 13% in vegetables.
Head teacher Robert Shadbolt said the programme was such a success that wellbeing is now being timetabled and added into the curriculum.
Nuffield Health is now offering a free-of-charge six-week programme to be used in UK schools, covering guidance for children on what they should eat, how often they should exercise and how much screen time on digital devices they should have.
Davina Deniszczyc, Nuffield Health medical director, said: “There is a gap in the provision of wellbeing support in schools that urgently needs addressing.”