Case Study: Swaffham Prior & Swaffham Bulbeck Primary Schools

Introduction

At Health Heroes, we are committed to helping children develop lifelong healthy habits through an engaging and flexible challenge that aligns with national health education guidelines. The Health Heroes Challenge was introduced to Year 3/4 students at Swaffham Prior Church of England Primary School and Swaffham Bulbeck Church of England Primary School as a fun and interactive way to encourage positive daily habits. With a strong emphasis on parental involvement and hands-on learning, the program was well received by students, parents, and teachers alike.

Background

Swaffham Prior Church of England Primary School and Swaffham Bulbeck Church of England Primary School are small, community-focused schools dedicated to fostering student well-being alongside academic success. Recognizing the importance of developing healthy habits from an early age, Katie Bellwood, PSHE Lead across both schools, sought an engaging and interactive way to reinforce positive lifestyle choices among students.

Implementation

The challenge introduced students to five essential daily habits:

1. Eating fruit and vegetables – Encouraging a balanced diet.

2. Getting enough sleep – Promoting proper rest for growth and learning.

3. Staying active – Incorporating movement into daily routines.

4. Engaging their minds – Supporting cognitive development.

5. Helping others – Fostering kindness and social responsibility.

To kick-start the initiative, the challenge was launched through a Class Café, a 1.5-hour session where parents were invited into the classroom to participate in a lesson alongside their children. This interactive approach created a collaborative and engaging environment, allowing families to:

• Gain a clear understanding of the Health Heroes Challenge.

• Actively participate in fun, hands-on exercises related to the Health Heroes Challenge.

• Plan how they could incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines.

The Class Café was a fantastic introduction to the initiative, sparking enthusiasm and encouraging family discussions about health and well-being. Both parents and students responded positively, demonstrating the potential impact of the challenge when supported by family engagement.

Key Outcomes & Learnings

• Excitement & Pride: The children were particularly proud to receive their Health Heroes certificates, which served as a great motivator.

• Parental Involvement: The launch event encouraged family discussions about health and well-being, reinforcing the importance of these habits at home.

• Challenges in Consistency: While initial engagement was strong, not all students consistently brought in their completed challenge logs each week. This suggests that younger students may benefit from more structured, classroom-based support to help them stay on track. lternatively, a weekly check-in approach may be more effective for older students, who are better suited to independently track and manage their progress.

Conclusion

The launch of the Health Heroes Challenge at Swaffham Prior and Swaffham Bulbeck Primary Schools highlighted the power of community engagement and hands-on learning. The Class Café approach provided an exciting introduction to the program, and students took great pride in earning their certificates. Moving forward, further adaptations—such as integrating more classroom-led support or targeting older students—could enhance participation and ensure long-term success.

We look forward to seeing how the Health Hero Challenge continues to grow and evolve in schools across the country!