A NEW initiative is being promoted in schools across Somerset to encourage children to drink only water during the day.
The scheme, called ‘Water Schools’, has been launched by Somerset Council’s public health team, which has signed up Bridgwater College Academy School as the first participant.
When pupils return for the new term next week they will take part in a series of sporting activities and try out fresh fruit-infused water during Friday (January 5).
‘Water Schools’ aims to encourage children in Somerset to make water their drink of choice, being preferred by both pupils and school staff.
The initiative is based on three main principles:
Pupils only drink tap water while at school
Parents do not need to provide drinks from home
Teachers encourage children to drink water during the day
The college academy will be the first school in Somerset to trial the initiative, which has a host of benefits for children, including:
Water (hydration) is fundamental for attention, concentration, and memory, therefore of key importance for children’s learning at school
Overconsumption of sugary drinks is one of the primary causes of tooth decay in young children, as well as representing a recognised risk factor for long-term diseases later in life
The policy change is not onerous, and the impact/outcome could be significant in the behaviour stakes, concentration in the classroom, and overall health of pupils
Although some schools may have a ‘no fizzy drinks’ policy in place, if schools took on a school-wide ‘water only’ policy it would help young people to establish good habits early in life and ultimately reduce the risk of preventable health issues both in the short and long term