How can schools give our children a healthy start?

A reflection on attending the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Places by Andy Wright, Strategic Relationship Manager for Children and Young People at Active Sussex

It was an honour to be invited to join the latest meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Healthy Places, where the focus was on one important question: how can schools give our children a healthy start?

The session, chaired by Dr Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, brought together voices from across education, health and youth sectors. Four invited speakers shared their perspectives before the discussion was opened up to the wider group.

The voices shaping the conversation
Molly Sands, a Youth Sport Trust board member, shared her lived experience of seeing friends disengage from sport as they progressed through school. She identified three key barriers: uniform, poverty, and periods. Her suggestions – from more flexible ‘active uniforms’ to a ‘kit for all’ programme – highlighted how simple, practical changes could help more young people, especially girls, feel comfortable and confident to be active.

Ben Levison, Executive Head Teacher and chair of the Well Schools movement, underlined the importance of balancing physical and mental health throughout the school day. He argued that PE should focus on the joy of being active rather than just rules and tactics, and called for a ‘Health and Wellbeing measure’ in school assessments to ensure children are given the best chance to thrive.

From a mental health perspective, Lisa Zaranyika of Young Minds spoke powerfully about the youth mental health crisis. She called for an end to the high-stakes exam system, which places immense pressure on young people, and advocated for a ‘Whole School Approach’ to early intervention. She also urged for curriculum reform, trauma-informed behaviour policies, and recognition of the economic impact of poor mental health.

Finally, Professor Helen Dodd from Exeter University and Play England reminded us not to blame children when the environment itself is restrictive. She illustrated how different daily experiences can either support or undermine children’s ability to move, play and stay healthy. She championed active travel, nutritious food education, and active play, while highlighting the success of the Opal programme in transforming playtimes.

Key themes from the discussion
Following the presentations, an engaging Q&A opened up, with contributions from across the 43 attendees.

Kim Leadbeater MP stressed the need to create space for teachers to support pupils, without simply adding more to their workload.

Chris Wright of the Youth Sport Trust asked how we can avoid siloed working and seize cross-sector opportunities.

Robyn Ramsell from the Ruth Strauss Foundation questioned how we move from reactive to proactive approaches.

Anna Chalkley from the Creating Active Schools programme highlighted the challenge of scaling up successful approaches.

I was pleased to share examples from our own Creating Active Schools programme, including our recent video case study on the importance of active play, which resonated strongly with the group.
The session closed with reflections on broader opportunities, such as the 1000 Days Enquiry, the NHS 10-year strategy, and the role of devolution in shaping public health.

Looking ahead
This APPG meeting was a brilliant opportunity to engage at a national strategic level and contribute to discussions that directly impact children and young people’s lives. What stood out most was the collective agreement that schools cannot do this alone. It requires joined-up thinking across education, health, community, and policy.

At Active Sussex, we are proud to play our part through programmes like Creating Active Schools, and we are committed to continuing this conversation. Supporting schools to provide children with an active, healthy start isn’t just about improving wellbeing today – it’s about shaping healthier, happier futures.