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A Teacher’s Guide to the Student Health in Public Schools Policy

Policy Templates and Implementation
Resources for Teachers
Tips and Support

Schools are powerful environments where students’ health, wellbeing and lifelong habits are shaped every day.

Teachers play a key role in supporting a whole school approach to student health, in line with the Department of Education’s Student Health in Public Schools Procedures, Appendix B. Healthy Food and Drink .

Integrating food and nutrition education into the classroom is essential for building a school-wide culture of healthy eating, reinforced through positive teacher role modelling.

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Home Resources A Teacher’s Guide to the Student Health in Public Schools Policy

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Why do we have a Student Health in Public Schools policy in WA schools?

The Student Health in Public Schools Procedures, Appendix B. Healthy Food and Drink aims to:

Contribute to the health and wellbeing of students and staff by supporting the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.
Recognise that the health and wellbeing of the school community is important.
Create a supportive culture where healthy food and drink choices are valued and encouraged.

How can teachers support the implementation of the Student Health in Public Schools Policy?

The following strategies highlight practical ways teachers can support the policy in their daily work.

Include healthy eating education in the school curriculum, across learning areas and year levels.
Plan for the provision of healthy food and drinks for educational activities, classroom rewards, school camps and excursions.
Limit the supply of non-core food and drinks to small amounts and only when essential to the learning program.
Provide opportunities for students to develop and apply knowledge and skills that promote healthy eating (e.g., growing foods, budgeting, shopping, food preparation, cooking and trying new foods).
Lead and assist with health promotion and healthy eating activities in the school.
Learn about healthy eating and role model these behaviours for your students.

Looking for fresh, fun and engaging teaching activities? Explore freshSNAP’s comprehensive suite of curriculum-aligned K-10 nutrition education resources, available to download for FREE from our website.

Confectionary items are not permitted as class rewards.

Consider providing non-food rewards to students, such as:

Privileges: Free choice of a class activity, choosing their own seat for a lesson, being a helper for the day or extra art, music or computer time.
Tokens: Stickers, bookmarks, pencils, erasers or small trinkets.
Recognition: Stamps, small certificates, positive notes home to families, peer ‘shout-outs’.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Student Health in Public Schools Policy

Why do we have a Student Health in Public Schools policy in WA schools?

How can teachers support the implementation of the Student Health in Public Schools Policy?

Confectionary items are not permitted as class rewards.

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A Teacher’s Guide to the Student Health in Public Schools Policy

Why do we have a Student Health in Public Schools policy in WA schools?

How can teachers support the implementation of the Student Health in Public Schools Policy?

Confectionary items are not permitted as class rewards.

Share this article

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