​​Health and wellbeing teaches your child about:

• mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
• planning for choices and changes
• physical education, activity and sport
• food and health
• substance misuse and relationships
• sexual health and relationships.

The purpose of health and wellbeing is to help every child and young person to feel cared for and valued as an individual. Learning about health and wellbeing will help them cope with uncertainties in life, have confidence to try new and different things and make the most of opportunities that come along.

What will my child learn?

Each area of the curriculum is broken down into experiences and outcomes. These are clear and concise statements about children's learning and progression from pre-school to S3.

Read the experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing.

How can I support my child's learning?

Parentzone's Supporting health and wellbeing at home section has simple ideas to support your child in learning about health and wellbeing through everyday activities.

How are children and young people learning in Scotland?

Education Scotland publishes regular 'Curriculum Impact Reports', which present a subject-by-subject view of how children and young people are experiencing learning in different curriculum areas across the country. Parents' views are taken into consideration in the reports.

The health and wellbeing report focuses on aspects of health and wellbeing that are the responsibility of all staff and adults who work with learners.

This summary of key points in the report has been written for parents and carers.

Areas of strength

The report identified the following as areas of strength in health and wellbeing education in schools and early learning and childcare centres:

• A culture of mutual respect exists
• Health and wellbeing ensures all children and young people achieve their full potential
• Strong partnerships mean that specific health and other needs are met
• Parents, young people and partners are involved in discussions and planning that are important to them and their community
• There are good arrangements in place at times of transition
• There are effective arrangements in place that value parents' contributions to the health and wellbeing of their child
• Children and young people are taking more responsibility for themselves, others and their school community. They understand and value the positive impact of outdoor learning, residential trips and taking part in clubs and activities beyond school, on their whole wellbeing
• Meetings with a member of staff, who knows the child/young person well, take place at regular, planned intervals.

Areas for development

In order to improve health and wellbeing across learning, the report found that schools and centres need to:

• improve how information is gathered from, and shared with, parents to support positive mental, emotional and social wellbeing of children and young people
• help parents to access training and information about specific aspects of health and wellbeing, for example promoting self-confidence, resilience and coping skills
• provide family-based support, in particular to help young parents improve their own health and wellbeing
• support parents and carers with their child/young person's participation in a range of activities within and beyond school, where possible
• create opportunities for children and young people to apply what they are learning about health and wellbeing in real-life situations
• develop better awareness of parents' and carers' contributions (and ways of recording these) when sharing progress and achievement of children and young people beyond school.

To learn more, read the full curriculum impact report:

PDF file: Health and wellbeing 3-18 curriculum impact report (863 KB)

Related links

Thematic inspection of personal and social education (PSE) and health and wellbeing in Scotland’s schools and early learning and childcare settings

Review of personal and social education

Health and wellbeing in schools