The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides a Framework for ensuring the delivery of core health principles within an early years setting. It has been agreed that the National Healthy Schools Programme could therefore play a valuable role in working alongside early years organisations and practitioners to provide professional advice and guidance to help raise health standards.

 

In Nottinghamshire we are currently piloting Healthy Early Years (HEY) Status in a number of settings, including 7 Children’s Centres (1 in each district) and nursery settings ie. those not attached to schools. It is our intention to roll out the programme to all Childrens Centres in Nottinghamshire over the next three years and to move onto daycare settings, recognising that all children will eventually move into Healthy Schools from whichever setting they are in. With Public Health issues such as obesity high on the agenda, it is imperative that we impart healthy lifestyle messages in the early years.

 

For more information on Healthy Schools and Early Years, go to ‘beyond NHSS’at www.healthyschools.gov.uk. If you are interested in becoming involved in the first wave of recuitment 2010-2011 and for more information on what is involved, please contact Debbie Parr tel 0115 8831887.