A booklet which has helped 10,000 children stay healthy and well has been made with the input of pupils at a school in Kent.

Helen Sharman, Kent School Health district manager, worked with Year 3 children at Halfway Houses Primary School in Sheerness to identify their health and wellbeing concerns.

The booklet was designed with the pupils to include information on how to brush teeth properly, what to do if they are feeling sad, and who to speak to if there is a problem at home, after children said these things mattered to them.

It has since been distributed to more than 10,000 school children. School health bosses say it has resulted in a 19% improvement in their health and wellbeing, with a noticeable different in how well children clean their teeth

Lyndsay Fordyce, who was the head of school at the time, said: “As a school we enjoyed being a part of the process and feeling like the children's voices were heard in the development of the leaflet.

“I feel that it is great that the children could have ownership of it and feel like they were part of something wider than our school community. They enjoyed being a part of the process and seeing the finished result.

“The booklet has been used and discussed with the children both at home and at school and they found it very useful as a starting point for further conversations and as a reminder about how to keep themselves fit and healthy.”

The initiative, which was trialled in three schools in east Kent before being rolled out, was prompted by a national recommendation that giving additional support to Year 3 children is beneficial.

Helen said: “The booklet was child-led and is child-friendly. It goes home with pupils and includes a QR code which parents can scan if they want further help from our services.

“It includes strategies to support a young person to establish a healthy lifestyle and routine.

“When our School Health Team presented the booklet in schools, children said they enjoyed the sessions. Teachers have shared that the booklet has supported their personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) sessions in school.”

The booklet was produced by School Health Team at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) and was funded by Kent County Council which commissions the trust to run the Healthy Child Programme.

Helen also worked with KCHFT’s dental team, dieticians and counsellors to add tips into the booklet, while children drew pictures to include inside.