The South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) is committed to supporting schools in the South West who are working towards Healthy Schools Plus. We can do this by helping schools and others identify and understand the health needs of their local populations. We have developed a set of indicators about the health of children, which highlight inequalities and areas of need, for this purpose.

The indicators are presented via an interactive mapping tool, which enables users to view the location of their schools in relation to the indicator being viewed. Click on the link below to access the tool and for more information about what it does and how to use it.

Instant Atlas™ Mapping Tool to support Healthy Schools Plus

Health Profiles (updated annually) provide a snapshot of health for each Local Authority in England, using key health indicators to enable comparison locally, regionally and nationally, as well as over time.

SWPHO has produced a range of indicators and population projections at Local and Unitary Authority levels to support Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

SWPHO has launched the Healthy Weight for Children Hub, an information network and evidence base for anyone involved in tackling childhood obesity. Highlights include:

• A searchable database of obesity interventions and healthy weight promotion projects;
• Links to useful regional, national and international resources;
• A networking area with discussions around key issues;
• News and events listings;
• Top tips for parents.

The National Child and Maternal Health Observatory (ChiMat) provides information and intelligence to improve decision-making for high quality, cost-effective services. It includes a mapping tool of Child Health Profiles to Local Area level, which provide a snapshot of child health and well-being for each local council in England using key health indicators to enable comparison locally, regionally and nationally. You can also select key child health indicators and make local, regional and national comparisons, as well as view results as tables or interactive maps.

Under 18 Conception Rate. The East Midlands Public Health Observatory (EMPHO) has produced interactive maps of under 18 conception data, using InstantAtlas from Geowise. Maps are available at Local Authority level, offering various ways of viewing the data, and also at Ward level, which show whether the Ward's under 18 conception rate is significantly different to the England rate.

Health Protection Agency South West has produced a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment briefing tool, which gives TB, HIV and vaccination rates by County and Unitary Authority.

The North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which leads on alcohol nationally, has produced more than 20 different indicators of alcohol-related harm, health and behaviour across Local Authorities, available as maps and charts. See Local Alcohol Profiles for England

The Injury Observatory of Britain and Ireland (IOBI) aims to support injury prevention practitioners by making important and relevant information and tools available in one place. The site includes research and statistics relating to:

• Road Casualties in England 2007
• Alcohol-attributable fractions for England — alcohol-attributable mortality and hospital admissions

The Government has set a target that all schools will be participating in the National Healthy Schools Programme by 2009 and that 75 percent of schools will have achieved National Healthy School Status (NHSS).

Healthy Schools Plus is designed for schools that have gained National Healthy School Status. It is not an additional standard but an opportunity for schools to extend and strengthen their existing National Healthy School Status. It is anchored in the aims of the National Healthy School Programme, which include reducing health inequalities and addressing key health issues such as tackling obesity and improving mental health.

The programme also focuses on meeting the five Every Child Matters outcomes and addressing the shared priorities of the Children’s National Service Framework and Local Area Agreements.

Healthy Schools Plus recently published a Handbook for Schools, written for schools on Phase 1 of the South West Healthy Schools Plus initiative. The Healthy Schools Plus website has guidance documents about the programme.