The Mayor of London is urging schools to sign up to a new project encouraging children to lead healthy lifestyles.

A total of £600,000 is being spent on the Healthy Schools London programme over the next three years, which recognises schools which promote healthy eating and physical activity with bronze, silver and gold awards. 

The project aims to tackle childhood obestity, with results released by Haringey Borough Council and the NHS last year revealing one in three children in Haringey are obese or overweight by the time they are 11 years old.

Despite the situation affecting children throughout Haringey, there are more overweight four to five year olds in White Hart Lane, Bruce Grove, St Ann’s, Tottenham Green and Seven Sisters than anywhere else in the borough.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This is a voluntary scheme, but if schools in Haringey sign up they will be part of a fabulous club, committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our youngsters.

“We know that when schools are healthy places to be, children are happier, their attendance and behaviour improves and they can achieve more.”

Schools will be rewarded for activities including teaching children about food and where it comes from, getting pupils involved in growing food and cooking, and encouraging them to walk and cycle.