London is stepping up its efforts to give children the healthiest possible start in life,both in the classroom and beyond. Through the twin initiatives of Healthy Early Years London and Healthy Schools London, City Hall is working with nurseries, schools and local partners to tackle issues ranging from poor diet and inactivity to mental health and inequality. Backed by the Mayor of London, the programmes offer structured frameworks, awards and practical support to help education settings embed health and wellbeing into everyday practice.As pressure mounts on families and services alike, these schemes are emerging as a key part of the capital’s strategy to narrow health gaps and equip the next generation with the foundations for a healthier future.
Expanding Healthy Early Years London How the programme supports families from pregnancy to school age
The initiative is widening its reach so that every stage, from the first antenatal appointment to the first day at school, is shaped by environments that nurture physical health, emotional resilience and strong attachment. Midwives, health visitors, early years staff and community organisations are brought together to share data, spot gaps and design joined-up support for expectant and new parents. This can include tailored stop‑smoking advice in pregnancy, on‑site mental health drop‑ins at children’s centres, and play‑based nutrition sessions in nurseries that introduce families to affordable, culturally familiar foods. Settings that meet agreed standards gain recognition, but also access to expert training, practical toolkits and opportunities to pilot innovative approaches.
Support for families is deliberately varied,recognising that needs shift as children grow and as wider pressures-such as housing and employment-change family life. Across participating London boroughs, parents typically encounter:
- Antenatal support: group workshops on birth readiness, healthy eating and emotional wellbeing, co‑delivered with local maternity services.
- Baby and toddler programmes: breastfeeding cafés, stay‑and‑play sessions, oral health campaigns and targeted support for low‑income households.
- Transition to nursery and school: guidance on routines, sleep and screen time, plus links to Healthy Schools activities such as daily physical movement and inclusive sports.
- Family learning and voice: parent forums, community language resources and peer‑led networks that shape how services evolve.
| Child’s Stage | Key Focus | Typical Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Foundations for health | Antenatal workshops, smoking cessation, mental health signposting |
| 0-2 years | Bonding & early nutrition | Breastfeeding support, weaning advice, home learning packs |
| 2-4 years | Play & learning | Active play sessions, speech and language activities, dental checks |
| School entry | Ready to learn | Transition workshops, healthy lunchbox guidance, links to school clubs |
Inside Healthy Schools London Turning policy into whole school wellbeing practice
Across London, headteachers, governors and school staff are quietly rewriting the everyday experience of pupils by weaving wellbeing into timetables, lesson plans and playground routines. What begins as a borough policy or a mayoral framework becomes visible in the corridor displays celebrating mental health awareness, in the re‑designed lunch menus, in staff who know how to spot early signs of anxiety, and in pupils who are trained as peer supporters. Rather of relying on one-off themed weeks, settings are using the Healthy Schools London awards to audit their culture, map gaps and embed small but consistent changes that shift the whole climate of learning. This means wellbeing is no longer an add‑on; it is an organising principle that shapes how the school day is structured and how success is measured.
Leaders describe the change as a move from “what we do” to “how we do everything”. Policies on physical activity, food, relationships and health education are translated into tangible action through:
- Curriculum redesign that integrates emotional literacy, consent and digital resilience into core subjects.
- Environment changes such as calm, low‑stimulus spaces, visible water points and inviting dining halls.
- Staff growth so every adult in school is confident having challenging conversations with pupils and families.
- Community partnerships with local health services, youth clubs and cultural organisations.
| Focus | Everyday Practice |
|---|---|
| Mental health | Regular check‑ins, drop‑in counselling, peer listeners |
| Physical health | Active travel plans, daily movement breaks, inclusive sports |
| Food culture | Co‑designed menus, cooking clubs, family tasting events |
| Student voice | Health councils, surveys, pupil‑led campaigns |
Tackling Inequalities in Child Health Targeted support for underserved London communities
Across the capital, children’s life chances can still be predicted by the postcode they are born into, so London’s early years and school-based programmes are directing resources where they are needed most. Using local data on deprivation, housing, air quality and access to green space, settings are supported to identify the pupils most at risk of poor physical and emotional health.This means working closely with community partners, including voluntary groups and faith organisations, to co-design initiatives that feel relevant and trusted. Targeted interventions are then woven into everyday routines, from breakfast clubs to after‑school activities, ensuring support reaches families who might not engage with traditional health services.
To reduce entrenched gaps, funded projects prioritise practical measures that remove barriers to healthy choices and learning. These include:
- Culturally tailored nutrition support for families facing food insecurity
- On‑site health checks and referrals for speech, vision and dental care
- Mental wellbeing programmes designed around trauma‑informed practice
- Targeted physical activity sessions for children with limited safe outdoor space
| Area of focus | Example action |
|---|---|
| Food insecurity | Free healthy breakfasts in nurseries and schools |
| Language barriers | Bilingual health workshops for parents and carers |
| Air quality | “Clean air” routes mapped for school journeys |
| Social isolation | Peer‑support groups for new and migrant families |
Putting Guidance into Action Practical steps schools and early years settings can take now
Across London, many settings are already weaving health promotion into everyday routines, but small, deliberate changes can quickly accelerate impact. Start by reviewing your current practice against the award criteria, identifying where health, wellbeing and inclusion are already strong and where simple adjustments could make a big difference. Involve staff, parents and children in this snapshot: their voices will highlight what works, what feels tokenistic and what’s missing. From there, designate a health and wellbeing lead to keep momentum, link with local partners and ensure your plans are realistic for your community. Even modest steps-revising a snack menu, reshaping a playground corner, refreshing PSHE resources-signal that your commitment to healthier futures is more than words.
Turning ambition into routine practice works best when it’s visible and shared. Embed changes into policies, lesson plans and the physical environment so they survive staff turnover and busy terms.Use wall displays,home-school newsletters and parent workshops to normalise new expectations around food,movement and emotional wellbeing. The actions below can be combined and adapted to suit nurseries, children’s centres and schools of every phase:
- Refresh the food offer – align snacks, lunches and celebrations with national standards and cultural diversity, co-designed with pupils.
- Prioritise active time – schedule movement breaks, active travel initiatives and outdoor learning into timetables.
- Strengthen emotional support – integrate feelings check-ins,calm corners and staff training on trauma-informed practice.
- Engage families – share simple, low-cost ideas for healthy routines at home and invite parents to co-lead projects.
- Track and celebrate progress – use pupil voice, attendance data and wellbeing surveys to show what’s changing.
| Focus Area | Quick Win |
|---|---|
| Nutrition | Swap sugary drinks for water-only policy |
| Physical Activity | Add 10-minute daily movement bursts in class |
| Emotional Wellbeing | Introduce a daily check-in board for feelings |
| Family Engagement | Host a monthly “healthy habits” drop-in |
Concluding Remarks
As London continues to grow and change, the twin programmes of Healthy Early Years London and Healthy Schools London are setting a clear expectation: health is not an optional extra in education, but a foundation for learning, wellbeing and prospect.By placing nutrition, physical activity, emotional resilience and community engagement at the heart of daily life in nurseries, schools and colleges, these initiatives are reshaping what it means to support children and young people in the capital. They also demonstrate how local authorities,educators,health professionals and families can work together,using shared standards and evidence-based practice,to narrow inequalities that begin long before exam results are tallied.
The schemes are not a quick fix. They require long-term commitment,sustained funding and a willingness to adapt to new challenges – from rising child poverty to the mental health pressures of a digital age.But as more settings sign up and progress through the award levels, they provide a growing body of proof that structured, city-wide frameworks can make a measurable difference.
In a city often defined by its contrasts, Healthy Early Years London and Healthy Schools London offer a model of what joined-up public health can look like in practice: systematic, scalable and grounded in the everyday realities of children’s lives. Their impact will be measured not only in healthier lunchboxes or more active playtimes, but in the life chances of a generation growing up in one of the world’s most dynamic – and demanding – urban environments.
