That’s the positive impact of the Mayor of London’s Water-Only initiative, which is being run at Devonshire Hill Nursery and Primary School in Tottenham.
It involves water being the only drink available in the school and all others actively discouraged from being brought in, including for events such as sports day and end of year parties.
Joanne McCartney, London’s Deputy Mayor for Children and Families of London and Cllr Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families at Haringey Council, Cllr Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing, and Cllr Ibrahim Ali, ward councillor for Bruce Castle, visited the school to better understand the importance of this programme and its positive impact on pupils.
Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, Cllr Zena Brabazon, said:
Adopting a healthy and nurturing environment for our students in Haringey doesn’t just start and end with learning but also focusing on their wellbeing and implementing changes that will enable them to live healthier and stronger lives.
Investing in the next generation is vital and as we move forward and make these gradual changes, we know we have given our students the opportunity to thrive, reach their full potential and ultimately, be the best version of themselves.
Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing, Cllr Lucia das Neves, said:
We’re proud to be tackling health inequalities in this way to ensure all Haringey pupils get the most from their school day. We take a holistic view of health and want to give the best start to all the children of our borough, and we look forward to seeing more water-only schools in the borough.
Deputy Mayor for Children and Families, Joanne McCartney, said:
I was delighted to meet with pupils at Devonshire Hill Nursery and Primary school to hear how being a water-only school has benefitted their health and wellbeing. The Mayor supports water-only schools and has provided free school meals to all state primary schools as part of his work to improve the health of our young Londoners. Bold measures like these will also help to improve pupil behaviour and learning, helping children to thrive as we build a better London for everyone.
With a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents and investing in the next generation, it is hoped less children will be at risk of obesity, tooth decay and type 2 diabetes.
In addition to positive lasting effects of the water-only initiative, the new scheme has also seen a reduction in waste and litter within the school.
For more information, see the Mayor of London’s Guide to Becoming a Water-Only School.
