“Health Matters and Busy Feet inspires and motivates young children to adopt a healthy active lifestyle, promoting an inclusive approach to learning through fun, non-competitive activities. The resources support learning across the curriculum, are easy to use and they allow children to experience the value of regular physical activity and eating healthily. They are particularly relevant to ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes and can be used to support schools in gaining ‘Healthy Schools’ Status. Each pack includes a wide variety of high quality resources designed for school staff and practitioner’s to adopt or adapt, reducing time but retaining high quality and ownership”.

Vicky Bowen - Author and national trainer to Health Matters Education.

 

Vicky Bowen - Author and national trainer to Health Matters Education has worked within the health and fitness industry

for the past 18 years. Throughout her career she has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience and has always demonstrated a passion for promoting children’s health, fitness and well-being. Vicky has substantial experience of

working within the health promotion portfolio for a Local Authority where her core responsibility was to deliver

health related exercise sessions to pupils in Key Stage 2. Vicky and Health Matters Education have developed

the ‘Health Matters’ and ‘Busy Feet’ resources for Primary schools and Early Years settings as a means of

helping school staff and Early Years professionals to promote healthy eating and physical activity

amongst children.

 

The ‘Health Matters’ and ‘Busy Feet’ resources have undergone a rigorous process of development

and revision over a 4 year period. Successive pilots in schools and early years settings have led to

significant changes to ensure the resources are appealing, engaging and effective. ‘Health Matters’ and

‘Busy Feet’ is now being launched nationwide.

 

New for 2008 - Health Matters edition 2

The second edition of ‘Health Matters’ provides further links across National Curriculum subjects and includes new 'Project Maps' which provide learning plans for teacher’s to adopt or adapt. Each project map provides sufficient content for continuous learning through the ‘Health Matters’ resources for at least 1 term. Alternatively the resources can be integrated into other areas of study throughout the year. It also provides a wide range of suggested learning (including games) activities that are clearly linked to National Curriculum programmes of study. It also contains additional Teacher's books, activity Ideas, children's worksheets, games, assembly ideas, lesson plans, DVD films and original music CD's. Many teacher’s have said, "this resource is simply outstanding".

 

Also new for Pre-School settings are the ‘Busy Feet’ resource packs. The practitioners' resource books, game cards, DVD films and music CD provide an enjoyable and valuable means of supporting learning at this critical time of development.  

 

Health Matters Education is endorsed by The Association for Physical Education (afPE) and Shropshire Local Authority where the resources have already been integrated into the work of the ‘Healthy Schools’ and ‘School Sports Partnerships’. Wider links across other Local Authorities, School Sports Partnerships and Healthy Schools Partnerships in the West Midlands, the North and the South of the country have also been established as part of the national promotion of the resources.