Nottingham is taking significant steps to get children more active and eating well, with one school being awarded Champion status in the Achieve Well Health and Wellbeing Foundation Awards.
The achievement comes at the same time as a call from the Royal Society for Public Health for increased physical activity in schools. Nottingham was highlighted as one of nine areas in England where the majority of children could be overweight or obese by 2035.
But now, Council officials are spotlighting its ongoing efforts to improve children’s health outcomes across the city, with Crabtree Farm Primary school being highlighted as just one example of the ongoing efforts to improve children’s health outcomes across the city.
Over the past year the school has worked to embed health and wellbeing as a priority across the school’s vision, ethos, leadership, curriculum, and environment. Pupils are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices through a combination of structured programmes, displays and well-planned lessons.
Councillor Helen Kalsi, Executive Member for Adults, Social Care and Health said:
“The recent projections are a stark reminder of the challenge we face on a local and national level. We already know that the health of people in Nottingham is generally worse than the England average, so we are not idling.
“It is great to see Crabtree Farm Primary and others around Nottingham putting the Health and Wellbeing of Children at the heart of school-life.
“We know that early intervention to build children’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards food and exercise can support lifelong health and reduce health issues in later years. Our aim is to build that knowledge, and ensure every child has the chance to grow up eating well and being active, and in Nottingham, we’ve taken a whole-city approach to this, through our Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.”
Since 2022, the joint Board – made up of health, public sector, education, and voluntary partners – has focussed its efforts on an Eating and Moving for Good Health initiative, aimed at:
- Ensuring all Early Years Settings, Schools and Academies are enabling eating and moving for good health
- Supporting healthy nutrition throughout the life course to support all people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Promoting physically active lives and building active and green environments
- Creating a local environment that promotes healthy food choices
- Promoting a sustainable food system that tackles food insecurity
The initiative boasts a number of successful schemes, including the Council introducing its Achieve Well service in 2023 – a dedicated healthy schools team that works with schools across Nottingham to embed a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, equipping children with the knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes for a lifetime of good health, fostering healthier and more resilient school communities.
In its first year, the team reached an impressive 73% of all primary, secondary, and special schools in Nottingham. Crabtree Farm Primary School is the first school in Nottingham to achieve the Champion Award.
Claire Shipley, a Year 3 teacher at Crabtree Primary School said:
“Engaging with the awards has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s not just about recognition, it’s about taking a moment to reflect on the journey, celebrate progress, and stay motivated. The awards provide a platform to share best practice, inspire others, and build a culture where health and wellbeing are truly valued.
“Prioritising health and wellbeing is important to our school because it’s the foundation of everything else, productivity, creativity, and resilience. When we take care of ourselves, we’re better equipped to support others and thrive both personally and professionally.”
Through the Eating and Moving for Good Health initiatives, the Council has also held an inaugural Nottingham Healthy Child Conference, which featured important workshops for school staff on topics such as Free School Meals, Picky Eaters, Physical Activity in schools, and support for stopping smoking and addressing youth vaping. Sixty-eight schools were represented at the conference, with attendees reporting increased knowledge, improved confidence, and stronger well-being provisions as a direct result of the Achieve Well team’s support.
To support physical activity, the Council’s Public Health team has also provided vital funding to enhance access to school swimming for children and young people in disadvantaged areas.
So far, this program has enabled 2,392 pupils to learn how to swim who otherwise would not have had the opportunity. Nottingham values the dedication of its schools in embedding healthy habits into children’s daily lives and encourages more schools to join this important journey.
Last year also saw the launch of Thriving Nottingham, a new health and wellbeing service that has already supported over 1,000 school-aged children through school-based weight management programs and over 200 families with personalised support for food habits and physical activity.
The service has also engaged over 1,000 children through the Holiday Activities and Food program and various community events, sparking important conversations about healthy eating and increased physical activity. All Nottingham city families can access support from Thriving Nottingham, and the service aims to help even more children and families this year.
Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education added;
“We are immensely proud of these impactful schemes in Nottingham, that support schools, families, and communities to make healthier choices easier every day, but this isn’t a battle we can win alone.
“We need everyone, including national government, to play their part in tackling the wider issues that affect children’s health – addressing the root causes of poor health, such as food poverty, exposure to unhealthy foods, and access to safe outdoor spaces, is crucial for reducing childhood obesity and overweight rates.
“Our hope is that the upcoming national Child Poverty strategy will address some of these broader issues that significantly impact the health of children and families in cities like Nottingham.”