DairyCo

Earlston Primary Case Study

Best Practice

The School Milk Project (TSMP) was delighted to become involved in a NHS Healthy Bones Day in a Borders school, Earlston Primary. Elaine Taitt, Osteoporosis Nurse specialist, arranged the event and the children enjoyed a visit from Charlotte the Cow.

The day began with the Osteoporosis consultant from the local hospital talking about healthy bones, the Education Director welcoming everyone and ended with a sponsored walk around the school field. This mile long healthy bone walk was led by a well known local rugby personality. The money raised was donated to the NOS (National Osteoporosis Society) Borders Support Group, Earlston Primary School and the NHS Community Children's Nursing Fund. This fund provides specialist equipment required by children to enable them to return home, for example after a stay in hospital.

Talks on the benefits of drinking milk and Boogie for Your Bones dance activities were organized and performed by the Active Schools classes. The children were winners in the NOS dancing competition. The aim of the day was to promote healthy teaching materials via the National Osteoporosis Society and was the first of its kind in Scotland. Growth and development of the skeleton, healthy eating, the importance of milk and the benefits of exercise in helping to prevent fractures in later life were themes of the day.

As part of the exercise session the children had the opportunity to try out a brand new piece of equipment, donated to the Active Schools Co-ordinators by the NHS Borders charity, 'the difference'. The 40 foot inflatable obstacle is accessible to all primary school children across the Scottish Borders via the Active Schools Co-ordinators, and is an excellent way of encouraging kids to exercise and have fun at the same time. Charlotte the Cow attempted to bounce her way around the new obstacle, of course!