Health and Well-being at Tavernspite School

Health and well-being is an absolute priority at Tavernspite school. It is one of our key ‘Areas of Learning Experiences’ and we recognise that children are not in a position to learn unless their physical and emotional well-being is very well supported.

Provision for supporting the health and well-being of our learners is a great strength for our school and we are considered exemplars of best practice. Our healthy schools work has been considered ‘sector leading’ and we are regularly asked to share our best practice with others.

We are very involved in the ‘Pembrokeshire Health Promoting Schools Scheme’ and have been recognised as ‘outstanding‘. In June 2011 we were awarded the highest accolade; the ‘National Quality Award (NQA)’, one of the first schools in Wales to achieve this prestigious award.

Since then we have embedded and further developed our practices to ensure this prestigious award has been successfully re-assessed every two years since 2011.

We promote healthy eating/drinking and regular exercise to support physical health and well-being.

To support mental and emotional well-being we have an Emotional Support Learning Assistant and an action group called TEaM – Tavernspite/Templeton Emotional and Mental Well-Being which does amazing work to support any one may be finding things difficult.

All food and drink prepared for the children during school time, including breakfast club, school lunches and after school club snacks, follows Welsh Government healthy eating guidelines. During break times we have a ‘fruit only’ policy.

We ask parents of children who bring a packed lunch to school to make every effort to ensure that the packed lunch contains a healthy eating and drinking selection.

Healthy options are always made available during ‘FoTS – Friends of Tavernspite School’ functions. Staff are also encouraged to follow ‘Healthy Schools’ guidelines.

Drinking plenty of cold, fresh water helps to develop concentration skills and the well-being of the individual. We ensure that our children have access to plentiful cold, fresh drinking water throughout the school day.

We prioritise physical fitness and education as part of our ‘health and well-being ‘ agenda. We develop the physical fitness of our pupils, through our physical development curriculum, but also through the development of high quality active play areas that encourage movement and physical activity. Such areas include all weather running track, large school field, trim trail and climbing equipment, monkey bars and sports pitches.

Furthermore, our extra-curricular programme and initiatives, such as the daily mile, contribute greatly to our physical well-being agenda.

We offer plenty of opportunities for sport. We regularly compete against other schools in swimming galas, athletic meetings, netball, rugby, football, cricket, rounders and cross-country although the philosophy of ‘sport for all’ and ‘participation’ are our priorities. Children are encouraged to be aware of their own safety and that of others at all times.

We enjoy a great deal of success and have developed an excellent reputation for sport. Our children are often noted for their behaviour and sportsmanship.

With all these activities, the aim is for the pupils to participate competitively with particular emphasis on enjoyment, sportsmanship and being part of a team.

Swimming – Pupils in the junior classes receive swimming lessons at Narberth Swimming Pool as part of the curriculum. They travel to the pool on the school minibus and are taught by a fully qualified swimming instructor. On swimming days, the children will require a swimming costume, towel and swimming hat.

Many of our staff are considered excellent role models to the children through their commitment to sports, physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.

For example, some are endurance triathletes or cross fit competitors, others regular runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers and surfers. All this experience is used to inspire the children to live healthy active lives.