[SCHOOL HEALTH IN FRANCE]

On average, French children spend 18.5 years n schools. Improving the effectiveness of interventions in school setting aiming at promoting children's health and reducing health inequities is critical in public health. Evidence shows that a whole school approach, where there is coherence between the school's policies and practices that promote social inclusion and commitment to education, actually facilitates improved learning outcomes, increases emotional wellbeing and reduces health risk behaviours. Many factors govern the ways in which school health education is implemented and within these factors, staff commitment and partnership with local health professionals play a crucial role. The effectiveness of health promotion in schools is directly linked to the way in which school environment is supportive. There is a need to improve school organisation, ethos and environment as well as to invest in partnerships with local organisations and services especially the health professionals who are in charge of children's health.