Health-promoting schools as an all-day programme

Duration

September 2004 to August 2007

The aim of this action research project is to reduce the high levels of health and psychosocial stress in schools (in this case, a secondary school in Döbeln), so that all groups involved (teachers, pupils, parents and non-teaching staff) can work together in a way that promotes good health.

Project objectives

In particular, the project aims to achieve the following:

• Reduction of health and psychosocial stress
• Further development of existing resources
• Increasing enjoyment of learning and academic performance

Action plans

The fundamental action plans are:

• ‘Health-Promoting School’ approach
• All-day school approach
• Forms of cooperation between schools and youth support services (school social work)
• Leisure-based educational clubs (additive model)

The main focus is on the school as a healthy, learning organisation. This is supported by the establishment and functioning of a steering group with equal representation.

Key innovation in school social pedagogy

The key innovation in school social pedagogy is the establishment of a school support centre offering low-threshold assistance in problem and conflict situations for pupils, parents and teachers. The school support centre is staffed by two specialist social educators and is open throughout the school day. Immediate support and counselling are provided here during school hours.

Key areas

Specifically, the following priorities have been identified:

Collaboration between pupils and the school support centre

• Relaxation and recreation through play activities
• Reducing performance anxiety and exam nerves
• Support for learning difficulties
• Support for acute illnesses
• Immediate support with problems and conflicts (with parents, classmates, teachers, etc.)
• Enabling pupils to (re)engage with lessons
• Encouraging creativity and imagination
• Support for gender development (work with boys/work with girls)
• Encouraging teamwork
• Encouraging independence and initiative

Cooperation between the teaching staff and the school support service

• Cooperation with the school management and the guidance counsellor
• Participation in relaxation and recreation activities
• Taking part in health campaigns
• Making use of counselling services
• Participation of social education workers in staff meetings
• Social education workers sitting in on lessons in school classes
• Participation in discussions with pupils
• Participation in discussions with parents
• Participation in youth support plan meetings
• Extracurricular activity groups
• Taking part in joint professional development programmes

Cooperation between parents and the school

• Organisation of/participation in parents’ evenings
• Organisation of/participation in parent groups
• Making use of counselling services
• Acceptance of support (including from specialist services)

The project is funded by the Saxon Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, the Döbeln District Office and the Techniker-Krankenkasse Hamburg.

Scientific supervision, support and evaluation are provided by Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (Prof. Dr Dr Günter Zurhorst).