Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS)

Welsh involvement in the European Network of Health Promoting Schools led to the development of a Wales Network of Healthy Schools. This was later refined to a network of local schemes, the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS).

The WNHSS was launched in 1999 to encourage the development of local healthy school schemes within a national framework. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises the WNHSS as playing a key role in promoting the health of children and young people, and the scheme has been rolled out across Wales since 2000.

Each local scheme is responsible for supporting the development of health promoting schools within their area. The WNHSS describes a health promoting school as one which ‘actively promotes, protects and embeds the physical, mental and social health and well being of its community through positive action’. This can be achieved through policy, strategic planning, staff development, curriculum, ethos, physical environment and community relations.

Within the scheme, there are seven different health topics that schools need to address. These include:

• Food and Fitness
• Mental and Emotional Health and Well Being
• Personal Development and Relationships
• Substance Use and Misuse
• Environment
• Safety
• Hygiene

Each topic has indicators under the headings:

• Leadership and Communication
• Curriculum
• Ethos and Environment
• Family and Community Involvement.