Drawing it Together: Understanding the Interaction of Health and Education in the Development Trajectory

From the preceding series of chapters, it is evident that a child’s ability to benefit from educational endeavours is majorly influenced by their health status and this relationship is reciprocal. This chapter provides an overview that draws together the findings presented in the previous chapters as to the benefits over the life course of the reflexive, positive associations between good health and educational attainment. The chapter concludes with the moral justification for synergistic investment in the health and education of children to maximise potential for productive and meaningful lives. This chapter provides insight into the health enhancing measures that can be applied in early childhood and during schooling which are likely to improve educational outcomes, and positively impact into adulthood and across the lifespan on health behaviour.