Wren Spinney School, in Kettering, which supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has achieved much-coveted gold status in the Healthy Schools Award scheme.The Healthy Schools scheme, run by by the Government’s Department for Education, recognises and celebrates schools’ progress in promoting wellbeing, healthy eating and physical activity among pupils through three levels of achievement.Wren Spinney has became the first north Northamptonshire education provider to be recognised with ‘gold’.Headteacher Mike Tebbutt said: “Wren Spinney is pleased to have taken part in the Healthy Schools Awards as these are about promoting a healthy lifestyle whilst still taking into the account the needs of the pupils, this is especially important for pupils with special needs.L-r Laura Ielapi NNC’s Public Health Officer, Toby Widdicombe Assistant Head Teacher, Mike Tebbutt Headteacher, and Cllr Elizabeth Wright“The awards have been completed by not just looking what our pupils will or can eat (bronze), but enabling them to have the opportunities to be as active as possible (silver), and focussing on their wellbeing (gold). Wren Spinney have been proud to take part in the Healthy School Awards and celebrate achieving Gold.”Staff and student at the school for pupils from 11 to 18 years of age, have benefitted from the wellbeing strategy impacting the whole school.The school, for children with Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, achieved all set targets to enhance and improve student experience.Over the course of a year, the school organised a festival, SENFest, a Winter Wonderland play day, and numerous wellbeing activities for pupils and staff. They created a quiet space for staff and a space for staff to receive support from Mental Health First Aiders.Cllr Elizabeth Wright, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Children, Education and Families, added: “This is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the sustained commitment to promoting health and wellbeing across their whole school community. This milestone is made even more special as it marks the first SEND school to achieve gold status.”Continue Reading
Kettering school earns gold Healthy Schools Award for wellbeing strategies
