Health & Wellbeing

Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that children and young people dwevelop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.

Learning through health and wellbeing enables children and young people to:

• make informed decisions in order to improve their mental, emotional, social and pghysical wellbeing

• experience challenge and enjoyment

• experience positive aspects of healthy living and activity for themselves

• apply their mental, emotional, social and pghysical skilss 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.

It also enables some to perform at high levels in sport or prepare for careers within the health and leisure industries.

Everyone within each learning community, whatever their contact with children and young people may be, shares the responsibility for creating a positive ethos and climate of respect and trust – one in which everyone can make a positive contribution to the wellbeing of each individual within the school and the wider community.

Each practitioner has a role in establishing open, positive, supportive relationships across the school community, where children and young people will feel that they are listened to, and where they feel secure in their ability to discuss sensitive aspects of their lives; in promoting a climate in which children and young people feel safe and secure; in modelling behaviour which promotes health and wellbeing, and encouraging it in others through using learning and teaching methods which promote effective learning, and by being sensitive and responsive to the wellbeing of each child and young person.

What features are required to effectively promote health and wellbeing?

Effective learning through health and wellbeing which promotes confidence, independent thinking and positive attitudes and actions requires: 

Learning and teaching which:

• engages children and young people and takes account of their views and experiences, particulary where decisions are to be made that may impact on life choices

• takes account of research and successful practice in supporting the learning and development of children and young people, particulary in sensitive areas such as substance misuse

• uses a variety of approaches including active, cooperative and peer learning and effective use of technology

• encourages and builds on the potential to experience learning and new challenges in the outdoor environment

• encourages children and young people to act as positive role models for others within the educational community

• leads to a lasting commitment in children and young people to follow a healthy lifestyle

• helps to foster health in families and communities through work with a range of professions, parents and carers, and children and young people

• harnesses the experience and expertise of different professions, including developing enterprise and employability skills