Healthy schools
Children do better at school if they are happy, healthy and safe.
The Healthy Schools Programme supports schools to recognise and celebrate achievements in whole-school health improvement. It is a simple way to collate evidence that will be useful for Ofsted inspection judgement areas.
East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex School Health Service are developing a new, locally designed Healthy Schools self-assessment which will launch soon.
The previous tool used to gain Healthy Schools status in East Sussex – the School Health Check – is no longer supported by the council. All existing Healthy Schools awards remain valid for their normal duration.
The new approach will provide schools with a more locally focused and manageable way to:
- review their whole-school approach to health and wellbeing
- recognise existing strengths and good practice
- identify priorities for improvement
- work towards East Sussex Healthy School status.
The new tool is being piloted with a small number of East Sussex schools. Feedback from the pilot will be used to refine the self-assessment, guidance and support arrangements before the scheme is made more widely available.
We expect to fully launch the updated scheme in the new year. Further information will be published on Czone when arrangements have been finalised.
In the meantime, schools can continue to contact the East Sussex School Health Service for advice about the Healthy Schools programme or support with health and wellbeing.
PSHE offer from the School Health Service
The School Health Team is led by registered, qualified nurses who have a specialist community public health degree. The team includes a range of public health practitioners, who support children, young people and families. Pupils do not have to be in school to use this service.
We also work and consult with schools. Some areas of the statutory curriculum may be more challenging to deliver than others, such as:
- Relationships education
- Relationships and sex education
- Health education
We have developed a programme of PSHE support for schools. This includes:
- Assemblies
- Sessions for parent/ carers and pupils based on the School Health Service offer
- General health awareness, Asthma and Allergy training for school staff
This complements the work of the work of the East Sussex PSHE Hubs.
Contact the School Health Service
For more information:
Email: kchft.schoolhealthplan@nhs.net
Use the: School Health Service referral form
Phone: 0300 1234 062
Healthy Schools status
East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex School Health Service are developing a new, locally designed Healthy Schools self-assessment which will launch soon.
The previous tool used to gain Healthy Schools status in East Sussex – the School Health Check – is no longer supported by the council. All existing Healthy Schools awards remain valid for their normal duration.
The new approach will provide schools with a more locally focused and manageable way to:
- review their whole-school approach to health and wellbeing
- recognise existing strengths and good practice
- identify priorities for improvement
- work towards East Sussex Healthy School status.
The new tool is being piloted with a small number of East Sussex schools. Feedback from the pilot will be used to refine the self-assessment, guidance and support arrangements before the scheme is made more widely available.
We expect to fully launch the updated scheme in the new year. Further information will be published on Czone when arrangements have been finalised.
In the meantime, schools can continue to contact the East Sussex School Health Service for advice about the Healthy Schools programme or support with health and wellbeing.
Contact the Healthy Schools Team
For more information:
Email: kchft.schoolhealthplan@nhs.net
Use the: School Health Service referral form
Phone: 0300 1234 062
My Health, My School survey
The current pupil voice survey, My Health My School (MHMS), closed this year on 14 July 2026. We would like to thank those schools who completed the survey for the 2025-26 academic year. Over the previous two academic years, more than 32,000 questionnaires have been completed by children and young people, providing valuable insights that have helped shape local support and ensure young people's voices are heard.
The MHMS survey will not run during the 2026–27 academic year while we work with partners to co-design a new pupil voice survey. This provides an exciting opportunity to create a more relevant, engaging and impactful survey that will continue to give children and young people a strong voice in shaping health and wellbeing support and services in East Sussex.
For further information, please contact kchft.schoolhealthplan@nhs.net
