UNDY Primary School has been awarded a fifth Healthy School Green Leaf Award.

Having worked for around 18 months towards their fifth leaf, the staff and pupils were given the award after completing work on hygiene and safety.

The healthy school programme aims to promote health education in the curriculum by encouraging staff and pupils to develop school policies that protect the physical, mental and social health of its community.

Undy Primary School began by setting-up individual water bottles for use during lesson time.

A Healthy School display in the hall was created too, as well as assemblies and communication to parents/carers, linked to this.

As a rights respecting school, Undy also linked the relevant article from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to the award.

The specific safety work completed by the school focused on Sun Safety Week, while the hygiene element looked at Hygiene Week, involving toilet hygiene – which the school council focused on – dental hygiene and hand washing.

The fifth leaf audit looked at pieces put up on the school's website and at pupils' work from all classes.

Overall food hygiene was looked at too, with parent–volunteer fruit cutters set to gain Level 1 Food Hygiene certificates, and currently supervised by someone with a food hygiene certificate.

The school has also bought a separate fridge specifically for the pupil's milk provision.

Headteacher Mark Gunn said: "The staff, led by Mrs Hilary Jones and Miss Rebecca Watkins, and the pupils have worked really hard to achieve the award.

"There were specific areas that were concentrated on and members of the school council have led their own classes in ensuring the message about water bottles, behaviour in toilets and appropriate washing/hygiene after using the toilet.

"All staff and pupils now have clear bottles for accessing water throughout the day and children know how important hand washing is to protect their health.

"We have also run a healthy eating poster competition to promote suitable break-time snacks for pupils. The winning poster has been put up around the school so children know what is good for them and what isn't.

"I am very pleased that the work we have put in has been successful in achieving the fifth Green Leaf which complements our Fair Trade School status, our platinum Green Flag and our Rights Respecting School status."