Healthy Award For Bryntirion Infants School

With the whole school coming together for daily lunchtime walks, and parents joining in with cookery, reading and play sessions, Bryntirion Infants School has been hailed as one of the healthiest and happiest schools in the country. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It has joined the select number of schools to have gained the National Quality Award from the Welsh Government as part of the Healthy Schools Wales Scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Assessors who visited Bryntirion Infants found the school to be implementing a range of wellbeing initiatives at the very highest level, linking issues such as sport, healthy eating, community, safety, hygiene, and the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They were particularly impressed with the way the entire school’s 157 pupils go for a half a mile walk around the grounds after eating lunch each day, and also highlighted the way that all parents are encouraged to feel involved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The connection between families and the school starts before pupils even set foot inside the gates as the Head Nursery Teacher and a Learning Support Officer make a home visit. The early contact helps to ensure that any of the child’s needs are addressed in the most effective and tailored way, and the school also works closely with Health Visitors and other health professionals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school runs a daily free breakfast club, where tables are laid out with healthy food such as fruit, wholemeal toast, sugar-free cereals and yoghurts, while healthy eating stays on the menu when parents are invited to come into the school to cook recipes with their children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Parents are also welcome to join in with ‘stay and play’ sessions, or get involved with the weekly reading café too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Assessors also praised the school for its work in promoting all things ‘green’. Members of the school’s eco-committee are proud of their exciting outdoor spaces which include a forest school area, a mud kitchen, a pirate ship and slide, and a mini beast hotel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a letter to the school’s pupils, award assessor Christine Edmondson said: “We think your school is not just healthy – it is healthy and happy and you all help to make it that way. Keep it up!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Head teacher Kathryn Foster said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this award and I would like to thank The Healthy Schools practitioners for the support they have given to the school and Mrs Aimee Crumbie who has co-ordinated the scheme throughout the school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We feel that a positive approach to health and wellbeing is vitally important and are extremely keen to embed healthy habits from a young age. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d also like to thank parents for their continued support – the way that they have embraced everything has been amazing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Congratulating the school, Councillor Huw David, the Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “This prestigious Health award marks the culmination of many years’ hard work by teachers, staff, governors and pupils. The award acknowledges the fact that Bryntirion Infant School provides a safe, stimulating and caring learning environment where health and wellbeing has been firmly rooted in school life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a happy, healthy school that is loved by its pupils and staff, and appreciated by its community. I understand that the assessors were even impressed by the pupils’ singing, saying it was the best they had ever heard at a school assembly! Well done to everyone at the school for their outstanding work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​