A Website called Wired for Health has been set up to give them the latest health information relevant to schools.

It is one of two new initiatives introduced by the government to improve health in schools.

The other is a poster and leaflet campaign aimed at reducing communicable diseases in schools and nurseries.

The Website will be developed for pupils' use

Both schemes were launched by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment at the Education Show in Birmingham on Thursday.

They are part of the government's Healthy Schools Initiative set out in the consultation document Our Healthier Nation.

Help for teachers

Teachers will be able to use the Website to get accurate information for teaching pupils about health issues.

It contains material relevant to children in a number of areas including:

• Sun safety
• Smoking
• Physical education
• Healthy Eating
• Alcohol
• Accidents
• Mental health

The poster and leaflet, which will be distributed to schools and nurseries, also contains information about communicable diseases.

Infectious illnesses

This includes how long pupils should be kept away from school after suffering from infectious illnesses.

The Minister for Public Health, Tessa Jowell, who introduced the two schemes at the Education Show, said the Website would be developed over time to include material for young people as well as teachers.

"The Website will provide teachers with the latest health information at the touch of a button," she said.

Tessa Jowell launched the schemes at the Education Show

And she said the poster and leaflet would give the best advice to reduce the spread of infection in schools.

"A child who is unwell should obviously not be in school or nursery, but parents and teachers may have differing views on how soon the child should return once they are better."

The Schools Minister, Charles Clarke, said teachers would find the Website "indispensable".

'Exploit new technology'

"If we are to maintain and improve school standards it is vital that we exploit new technology and the benefits it offers so we can help teachers save time in the preparation of lessons," he said.

"Wired for Health is easy to navigate and offers clear signposts to excellent, imaginative and credible sources of online information."

The Website, which is available on the National Grid for Learning, has been developed by the Health Education Authority.

The advice on the leaflet and poster has been drawn up by the Public Health Laboratory Service in consultation with experts in communicable disease control and community paediatricians.