A wide range of education providers, including primary and secondary schools, learning centres and an academy have already signed up to the award, which will see children learning about the drugs that are relevant to their lives at each year and key stage.

For younger pupils this may be medication but as they get older it will include tobacco and alcohol. Young people will learn about how drug and alcohol use can affect their health, behaviour and the behaviour of others.

The unique aspect of DrugAware is that parents and the community within which the schools are located also receive drug and alcohol education. The overarching aim is for young people and the communities within which they live to have a shared "vocabulary" around drug and alcohol issues along with increased confidence to talk about the issues and greater awareness of the risks and effects of substance misuse.

To achieve DrugAware status, schools must fully meet the criteria set out by the DrugAware team; this includes pupil involvement in reviewing drug education and policy and regular staff training. Schools must also include effective lessons and activities focused on medicine, drug and alcohol misuse in the curriculum along with work to encourage parents and the community to link in with the outreach sessions delivered by the project's Community Development Workers.

Some of the activities schools are delivering include 'Hazards in the Home' (KS1), Risk Situations Role Play Activities (KS2), poster competitions and activities to try and guess what one unit of alcohol looks like. Pupils in many schools are building a 'DrugAware Wall', where each brick says what being DrugAware means to them.

Both Huntingdon Primary and Blue Bell Hill Primary schools are due to complete the award in March and will receive a plaque during a celebration assembly.

Jo Bradley, Headteacher of Blue Bell Hill added "The whole school community are pleased to see this new approach being introduced to schools. It is so important to give our children and their families as much information as possible in order for them to make the right choices."

Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Children's Services said: "Schools who have signed up to DrugAware are working hard to bring in a new, robust drugs policy, involving the whole school community in its development so that there is a clear protective response to substance and alcohol misuse. We hope that this approach will give parents greater confidence and knowledge so they can support their children to reach their full potential both now and in years to come".

DrugAware is targeted at all Nottingham schools as part of Nottingham's Early Intervention Programme. The scheme is being delivered through Nottingham City Council's Healthy Schools Team, Catch 22 (Rainer Crime Concern) and Trading Standards.

Click here fo more information about the DrugAware Award.