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Research conducted by researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Wageningen University & Research shows that the contents of primary school children's lunchboxes are far from healthy. The JOGG region of Zuid-Holland Zuid therefore launched the regional ‘Lunchbox Without Junk’ campaign in 2021. This year, several other JOGG regions are taking up the campaign.
Children sit on a chair all day, with the fifteen-minute outdoor break and physical education lesson being the only outlets for physical activity. There is still plenty of inspiration to be gained in terms of software – active learning, energizers or brain breaks – and hardware – the design of buildings and schoolyards – so that we can offer children a more dynamic school day that challenges them to move and learn. For Oscar Scipio of the KVLO, this is an important motivation for organizing the Dynamic School Day Denmark Study Trip together with GLOS and Arko Sports Media.
“It makes sense to systematically check children’s hearing with an annual test in the upper years of primary school or the lower years of secondary school.” This is what Saskia Kloet, programme manager at SafetyNL, said on 30 August in an article in AD.
When everyone returns from the summer holidays with renewed energy, this creates opportunities for a healthy or healthier lifestyle at school. Healthy School gives you six ideas for starting the school year in a healthy way.
After a period of lockdowns, schools were largely able and allowed to provide in-person education again over the past year. Even in the event of a new wave of coronavirus infections, this is the approach of everyone involved. Nevertheless, the impact of coronavirus remains noticeable among students and staff. We are seeing more restlessness in students’ behaviour, more conflicts, continued turbulence in group dynamics, and social conventions no longer seem clear. School & Safety provides an overview of what you can do as a school board member, team leader or education professional in general to restore and maintain a pleasant atmosphere.
Getting help with homework, developing further through sport, or exploring a future career through additional technology lessons. Not every child is exposed to these opportunities at home, even though they are important for learning effectively and progressing further. That is why Minister Wiersma (Primary and Secondary Education) launched the School & Community programme during the first official opening of the school year.
On 22 August, the day primary schools in the Central Region opened their doors, Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN) began the ‘Our schools have started again’ campaign. New this year is VVN’s Schoolyard Challenge. The challenge calls on all classes at all primary schools to display or express the slogan ‘Our schools have started again’ on the schoolyard in the most original way possible and submit an example of it.
Lessons on healthy eating should be given a permanent place in the curriculum of primary schools. It would also be beneficial if the teaching package involved parents. This is the view of Angeliek Verdonschot, an external staff member in the Consumption and Healthy Lifestyle section of Wageningen University & Research.
Platform JEP and the NJi are receiving signals that youth professionals sometimes struggle with their role and position in situations involving polarisation. Think, for example, of the coronavirus measures and discussions surrounding refugee reception. You may encounter these tensions at school, in the community centre, in the neighbourhood or online.
On 23 March, CBS Het Lichtpunt from Rhoon and SO de Hertog from Tiel were named the ‘Sportiest Primary School in the Netherlands’ and the ‘Sportiest Special Education School in the Netherlands’, respectively. Together with the other four nominated schools, they have a number of things in common, an article on Alles over Sport, part of the Knowledge Centre for Sport & Exercise, explains.
IVN sees nature as the best classroom for children: a place where they have all the space they need to discover, learn about and grow in the world through play. In De Loonse en Drunense Dunes National Park, IVN therefore offers a range of nature experience programmes for primary education. These programmes are led by well-trained volunteers. To continue offering nature education in the landscape to as many children as possible in the coming years, IVN Brabant is looking for new volunteers.
Poverty causes stress for parents. It also affects their choices and their children's outlook for the future. In addition to material assistance, professionals, including those in education, can help mitigate the effects of poverty by focusing on protective factors. Families' social networks, a stimulating and supportive family environment, and being able to participate in activities are important factors.
On 5 July 2022, Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen organised an online session about outdoor play at out-of-school care (BSO). Together with more than 30 professionals, staff from Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen discussed the opportunities and challenges surrounding outdoor play at the BSO.
After every holiday, a group goes through certain phases in the process of group formation. The first weeks at the beginning of the school year are called the Golden Weeks. These weeks are particularly suitable for laying the foundation for good group formation and a pleasant atmosphere. Students get to know one another, the teacher and the rules. Stichting School & Veiligheid provides information and tips for the Golden Weeks.
Pride. Every year, it is again an occasion for cynical remarks about the extravagant and supposedly hysterical, often white, gay men wearing little clothing. And critical questions such as: does such a boat parade really promote equality? And is this actually still necessary? Luc Lauwers, programme manager for sexual education at Rutgers, the centre of expertise on sexuality, is clear in the argument below.
How do you incorporate nutrition into the school day? A theme is more likely to stick with students if it is addressed more often. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and Healthy School offer you seven ways to approach the theme in different ways, without requiring too much preparation time.
What does climate change mean for children and young people growing up and being raised? And how can parents and other caregivers offer them a promising outlook for the future? In the essay ‘Raising Children in a Warming Climate’, the Netherlands Youth Institute answers these questions on the basis of an exploratory literature review. The findings are also of interest to the education sector.
Less than nine hours of sleep leads to a considerable decline in certain brain functions in primary school-aged children, particularly in the areas of memory, intelligence and psychological well-being. Children who do get the recommended nine to twelve hours of sleep do not experience these problems, according to a new study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
On 14 July, during the last week before the summer holidays, De Opstap primary school in Oentsjerk put a panna cage into use. The panna cage was the school prize awarded by Jantje Beton. Director Dave Ensberg of Jantje Beton and Erik de Rink from sponsor Antea Group attended the official opening of the panna cage.
The centre of expertise for overweight and obesity in children, COACH, has been in existence for 12.5 years! To celebrate this, COACH is organising the First National Childhood Obesity Symposium on 14 October 2022. The symposium will include, among other things, a review and preview of developments in education.
The Active-Friendly Environment Scan (BVO scan) has been expanded with a scan focusing on how conducive the school environment is to physical activity. This enables professionals to map the activity-friendliness of the schoolyard and school zone.
During the summer holidays, primary school administrators make good resolutions for the new school year. The option of providing lunch at school also comes up. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists four benefits.
On Wednesday afternoon, 9 November, Act4Respect is organising a conference in Utrecht for, among others, education professionals and youth workers. The conference will focus on how small changes in your daily work can have a major impact on preventing (gender-based) violence. Attendance is free. It is also possible to attend online.
The ‘LGBT Monitor 2022’, published by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research on 5 July, shows that the situation of LGBTQI+ students at school still requires a great deal of attention. In some cases, their sense of safety has even deteriorated. The monitor provides recommendations to education institutions for improving the school climate, with School & Safety offering practical support to schools.
From September 12 through 18, the Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling Foundation is organizing Waste-free Week. During this week, activities are being organized throughout the Netherlands to reduce food waste. A free starter package has been developed for primary education (grades 7–8) by Smaaklessen, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling Foundation. The package is intended to help address the topic in the classroom.
Over the next three years, the schoolyards of 30 primary schools in Drenthe will be transformed into ‘outdoor classrooms’: green and healthy play and learning environments. On Wednesday, 13 July, the Provincial Council made the funds available. The first eight schools have now been selected.
The cabinet is allocating a one-off €15 million to reduce the number of students who are not attending school. This will provide additional support centres, tighten absenteeism policies and expand digital distance learning. Education Minister Dennis Wiersma wrote this in a letter to the House of Representatives on 15 July.
For the young people of Dordrecht, House of Esports organised the Esports Experience on 22 June in DeetosSnel sports hall on behalf of Dordt Sport. House of Esports immersed itself in the world of primary school children through Gamification. The event was for pupils from years 4 to 8.
Staying active and exercising sufficiently throughout your life starts in primary school, with good and sufficient physical education. Why is it important to get pupils moving more and better? Gezonde School gives five reasons in an article created in collaboration with the KVLO and the Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity.
Minister Carola Schouten for Poverty Policy wants to bring back the school dentist in order to give children from low-income families access to this form of care again. She said this in an interview with AD on July 13. Although dental care is free up to the age of 18, one in five children never visits the dentist.