School policies and environment

• Ensure that improving the diet and activity levels of children and young people is a priority for action to help prevent excess weight gain. A whole-school approach should be used to develop life-long healthy eating and physical activity practices.​

• Head teachers and chairs of governors, in collaboration with parents and pupils, should assess the whole school environment and ensure that the ethos of all school policies helps children and young people to maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet and be physically active, in line with existing standards and guidance. This includes policies relating to building layout and recreational spaces, catering (including vending machines) and the food and drink children bring into school (see the Children's Food Trust website), the taught curriculum (including physical education), school travel plans and provision for cycling.

Training staff

• Head teachers and chairs of governors should ensure that teaching, support and catering staff receive training on the importance of healthy-school policies and how to support their implementation.

Establishing links with other organisations and professionals

• Establish links with relevant organisations and professionals, including health professionals and those involved in local strategies and partnerships to promote sports for children and young people.

Activities to prevent obesity

Strategy: for head teachers and chairs of governors

• Interventions should be sustained, multicomponent and address the whole school, including after-school clubs and other activities. Short-term interventions and one-off events are insufficient on their own and should be part of a long-term integrated programme.

Delivery: for teachers and other professionals

• Staff delivering physical education, sport and physical activity should promote activities that children and young people find enjoyable and can take part in outside school, through into adulthood. Children's confidence and understanding of why they need to continue physical activity throughout life (physical literacy) should be developed as early as possible.​

• Children and young people should eat meals (including packed lunches) in school in a pleasant, sociable environment. Younger children should be supervised at mealtimes and, if possible, staff should eat with children.​

• Staff planning interventions should consider the views of children and young people, any differences in preferences between boys and girls, and potential barriers (such as cost or the expectation that healthier foods do not taste as good).​

• Where possible, involve parents in school-based interventions through, for example, special events, newsletters and information about lunch menus and after-school activities.