It is the 69th birthday of the NHS on 5th July this year. There will be celebrations all over the country which, we are sure, will gain a lot of publicity. As local health campaigners within a national network, we wanted to help schools both within Kirklees and nationally to celebrate the NHS with their pupils on its birthday. We have put together a Teacher Resource Pack to help you to do just that! It is sent in good faith and without any political agenda, although we are in a General Election period, the birthday comes a month after the vote and we are sending the information now purely to help schools with their curriculum planning. The resource pack has been written and researched by an experienced teacher, and all sources are given in the slide notes. It is designed in ‘Pick and Mix’ format, and with all age ranges in mind from around Y2/Y3 right up to Y13. Choose to discuss one slide, or as many as you see fit – this could be a five minute registration activity or the basis for a full lesson, with little to no preparation needed from teachers themselves. We will gladly help to deliver the session if necessary, subject to your safeguarding protocols. The NHS speaks to our British Values and I’m sure you will agree, it is a topic worthy of covering within the PSHCE curriculum. How about taking the celebrations up a notch and encouraging students (and staff?!) to ‘Dress for the NHS’ for the day? They could dress as doctors, nurses, surgeons or any other healthcare providers! It would be wonderful for the profile of our Hands Off HRI campaign to get a mention if you were to send a letter home to parents regarding any dress up/dress down day, but of course, we leave this entirely to your discretion! We would love you to get involved, and we will certainly be getting local media onboard too.
We have sought advice from the council regarding any constraints that schools may feel they are under from a Local Authority perspective and have received this from the leader of Kirklees Council, David Sheard: ‘no guidance will be issued and schools don’t need permission’. I am happy to forward the full email conversation if that would be helpful. Alternatively, you are welcome to give me a call on 07747 446005 or contact the pack author Louise Peace on 07411 708696.
Many thanks for your time, we hope you will respond positively to this idea.
Let’s celebrate the NHS – 69 Years Young, 5 July 2017!
Best wishes
Cristina George
Secretary – Hands Off HRI Campaign
