Agenda item

[To receive feedback from the Scrutiny inquiry session on tackling child obesity and to consider the main messages from the session.]

Ros Jervis, Service Director Health and Wellbeing outlined the report.  She advised that the Inquiry group had received information and data relating to the scale of childhood obesity in Wolverhampton, and witness evidence about initiatives, including school based activity.  The evidence presented had provoked a lively discussion which had resulted in five recommendations outlined in the report. 

Cllr Peter O’Neill, Chair of the Inquiry session highlighted that the meeting had been very productive and in addition to the recommendations from the session he highlighted a need to note that getting the obesity framework right was extremely important.  He indicated that there were sensitivities around obesity especially informing parents that children fall within the overweight and obese category. 

Cllr Sandra Samuels, Cabinet Member Health and Well Being welcomed the report, she highlighted that the inquiry had identified the issues and how much was already happening to tackle childhood obesity.  She thanked the individuals who had contributed to the review.

The Service Director outlined the five recommendations in the report and gave Public Health perspective to respond to each recommendation.  In relation to recommendation one she highlighted the need to focus on teaching staff and teaching assistants in Wolverhampton Primary schools.

She indicated that the second recommendation was the most important to motivate information, communication and the menu of support and services relating to Childhood Obesity to all School Governors and Leadership Teams in schools across Wolverhampton.

She advised that the ‘Daily Mile’ initiative was one of many interventions to improve activity with children and that dietary advice is as important, she welcomed discussions taking place at Governors meetings.

In relation to the third recommendation the Service Director indicated that the standard of school meals was good and there is a need to promote the uptake of free school meals.  She suggested that school policy would determine what is done in schools to advise on the contents of school lunch boxes and what support is required for teachers in relation to this.

The fourth recommendation highlighted the need to develop cooking skills in young people and families within the City.  The Scrutiny Board considered how cookery classes could be financed and if Council buildings with kitchen facilities were underutilised across the City, such as Aldersley Stadium kitchen.

The Service Director referred to recommendation five and how evidence had identified that some schools were actively engaged with the PASS team to deliver activities.  The Scrutiny Board agreed that the real work was to engage all schools and that more work was needed around communication and engagement with schools to tackle a number of approaches to tackle childhood obesity.

The Service Director responded to questions, indicating that obesegenic call to action was about a whole system approach to tackling obesity; she highlighted that in some parts of the City there was a food outlet on every corner and that Public Health were working with colleagues in other Council services such as planning and licensing to look at the bigger picture. The Scrutiny Board highlighted a reference in the report to the correlation between obesity and areas of deprivation.

Cllr Dr Mike Hardacre suggested that some analysis should be undertaken to consider BMI data for secondary schools over a period of time and if sports academies have achieved a downward trend in obesity and a lower BMI than other schools. Cllr Peter O’Neill asked how this data would be monitored.  In response the Service Director advised that there is a national requirement to monitor BMI height and weight in children in year 6 and reception class, she advised a different approach would need to be taken to drive forward monitoring in secondary schools. Scrutiny Board were appreciative of the issues for teenagers relating to self-image and being overweight or obese.

The Service Director informed the councillors that Beat the Street initiative aimed to involve all ages however the however the children involved were primarily from primary schools and  not so many participated of secondary school age. She advised that Public Health is trying to engage with secondary schools to introduce health and wellbeing and plan to work with head teachers and leadership teams.

In response to questions the Service Director clarified it is a vital piece of work to share best practice in schools. Cllr Peter O’Neill suggested reviewing the data relating to obesity in primary schools through to secondary schools to evaluate how successful initiatives to tackle obesity have been. Scrutiny Board agreed that data should be reviewed and reported back to Joint Scrutiny Panels and the Board after two years to make recommendation for the third year.

Cllr Rita Potter welcomed the recommendations and the evidence gathered in the inquiry session, she highlighted that an issue to be addressed was that parents were not engaging. The Service Director welcomed the point and advised that support would be given to school governors to engage parents.  The Chair endorsed this action, he suggested that with the protocol in place, governors could work with children to share information and activities with parents; he suggested that parents walking with children to school may also free parking and road congestion around schools.

Resolved

1.            Scrutiny Board recommend that a discussion take place with local education providers and teaching alliance to consider the feasibility of increasing the physical activity, knowledge and skills component of all teaching degrees, with a particular focus on primary qualifications.

2.            Scrutiny Board recommend that motivating information and communications relating to child obesity and the menu of support and services available is circulated to all Governors and Leadership teams in schools across Wolverhampton.

3.            Scrutiny Board recommend that food quality and nutritional standards in school lunches are reviewed and that priority is placed on two key areas:

a.            Take up of school meals, particularly at key transition points e.g. end of Universal Infant free School Meals at year 2 and the transition from primary school to secondary school.

b.            The nutritional value of food provided from home (packed lunches and snacks).

4.            Scrutiny Board recommend further investigation of developing cooking skills in young people and families within the City.

5.            Scrutiny Board recommend further development of the intra-school and inter-school sports to progress competition between individuals, classes, schools and local authority areas.

6.            Scrutiny Board recommend that some analysis be undertaken to consider BMI data for secondary schools over a period of time and if sports academies have a downward trend in obesity and a lower BMI than other schools.

7.            Scrutiny Board recommend a progress report to evaluate how successful initiatives have been relating to and report back to Joint Scrutiny Panel and the Board after two years to make recommendation for the third year.