Making every school a health-promoting school: implementation guidance for school health services

Overview

Schools are powerful platforms for improving health and well-being. This guidance provides practical strategies to implement and strengthen school health services (SHS) as part of a whole-school approach. It serves as the implementation guidance for the WHO Guideline on School Health Services, translating evidence-based recommendations into actionable steps. The document offers planning tools, checklists, and country examples to help policymakers, education leaders, and health professionals deliver comprehensive, equitable care for children and adolescents. Covering eleven priority areas—from leadership and policy to access, workforce, and quality—it supports progressive realization of SHS in all contexts. Ultimately, the guidance will support efforts to make schools healthier, safer, and more inclusive for every learner.