Children's Health and Well-Being

We aim to provide children with the skills and knowledge they need to make good choices for long-term healthy lifestyles. We provide opportunities for this in various ways:

Healthy Schools Programme
Our school is part of the Kensington & Chelsea Healthy Schools Programme and for the past 3 years we have been awarded their Gold standard. This programme aims to recognise good practice in school and encourages a holistic approach to promoting the physical and emotional well-being of pupils, staff and parents. Our long term goal is to provide the children with the knowledge and understanding they need in order to be able to make their own informed decisions for a healthy lifestyle. As part of this commitment we do not give out birthday cakes for children's birthdays. we are a completely nut-free environment because we have several children with nut allergies. children are encouraged to drink water during the day, preferably from their own bottle brought from home, which can be refilled in school. Each class has drinking water and cups are made available.

Mental Health

At OLOV, we promote a mentally healthy school environment through our positive and caring ethos and by encouraging a sense of belonging. We recognise that everyone experiences life challenges which can make them vulnerable and, at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play in our own emotional wellbeing and that of our friends.

We practise ‘Mindfulness’ and we are proud to have been a pioneer school for the ‘MindUp’ Foundation’s work in London: teaching children how our brains work, how emotions affect us and how to incorporate regular mindful practice into all of our daily routines. We aim to create a calm and mindful culture where all our children can thrive and be happy. Growth Mindset is also taught in every classroom and the themes of mental health, growth mindset and resilience are regularly discussed in class, in circle-times and whole school assemblies.

We aim to offer support wherever it is necessary. We have two Emotional Learning Support Assistants (ELSAs) on the staff who can support individuals and groups of children with a range of difficulties. We are delighted to be working with the NHS in West London’s Mental Health Trailblazer project* this year and we are also participating in a project to develop a community of schools working together to improve Mental Health in children, run by the charity Place2Be.

*If parents feel that they would like to receive support  from the Trailblazer project they can complete the referral forms here themselves or speak to school staff. A consent for data to be processed also needs to be completed. The forms can be accessed using the links below. 

    Referral form to be completed

   Consent for data to be processed

Referrals when completed should be sent to: trailblazerteam@hfmind.org.uk

 Physical Activity

We encourage children to be as physically active as possible during the school day.  At least two hours of quality PE is included in the weekly timetable. In addition there are opportunities to take part in extra-curricular sport. We participate in local league fixtures and sporting events. For the last 4 years we have achieved the Gold award from the government initiative, School Games Mark.

School Travel Plan
The school has a School Travel Plan with a range of targets to encourage children to be as physically active as possible, which includes coming to school by other forms of transport than a car. The school provides a secure area for scooters and also runs cycling proficiency classes at specific times during the school year. We participate in Walk to School Week and we actively encourage children to include exercise in their form of travel. For the last 5 years we have been awarded Transport for London's STARs Gold award for promoting sustainable travel.

Food in school

School Lunches
We have a kitchen on site where fresh food is cooked daily. Rigorous monitoring is in place to ensure that the lunch provision meets all the current government nutritional guidelines. Children's feedback is responded to as much as possible and the school councillors lead a consultation with all the children about new menu proposals.

Our policy is to encourage all children to have school lunches. Packed lunches are discouraged and only permitted for children with special dietary or medical requirements. If permission is given the packed lunch must comply with government standards. The school can offer guidance to parents on this matter if required.

A new catering company 'Principles' has been given the contract to provide lunches from February 23rd 2020. Their menu can be seen here.

February- October 2020 menu

Breakfast Club

 We have a breakfast club which is open daily, Monday to Friday, from 8.00am until 8.55am. The Club provides a healthy breakfast consisting of cereal, fresh fruit, boiled eggs, toast, juice, milk and other beverages if required. There is a small charge for this club.

Snacks
All children have access to free fruit at morning break. Children who attend after school clubs are permitted to bring a small, healthy snack, which are monitored to ensure that it complies with our snacks policy.