The school environment presents both hazards and opportunities for children's health - Burstow

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 20th Nov 2006

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has announced his intention to launch an All Party Parliamentary Group on Health and Well-being in Schools. The group will focus on specific health hazards and problems found in the school environment, as well as the opportunities to inform and educate young people about healthy living which arise in a school environment.

Mr Burstow decided to launch the group after discussing health and well-being in schools with a number of charitable groups, notably BackCare, which contacted Mr Burstow about it's 'Protecting Young Backs' Campaign. Working to raise awareness of the potential to acquire damaging, long-term health problems, such as back problems, will be one of the key focal points of the group.

The four core aims of the APPG on Health and Wellbeing in schools will be:

• To bridge the gaps in current legislation that fail to adequately protect children within the school environment.

• To promote the prevention of avoidable illness and injury through the establishment of best practice in schools.

• To promote the management of short and long term health conditions.

• To equip and support schools, enabling them to educate children regarding their future health and well being.

If things move forward as planned, the group will meet 4 times a year to discuss subjects such as the role of the school nurse, the impact of poor seating on children's backs and the management of adolescent mental health.

Commenting on his plans to launch the group, Paul Burstow MP said:

"The school environment presents a unique set of health issues, whether it be managing long-term conditions which are more prevalent in the young, such as adults, or taking steps to control risks to the bodies of young people which are still growing and strengthening."

"However, there is also a great opportunity to teach children to adopt patterns of healthy behaviour which will help them throughout their adult lives."

"The aim of this group is to provide a forum to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities which already exist, and thereby facilitate the well-being of our children."