Five more early years settings in Guernsey and Alderney have been awarded the Healthy Schools Award.
They received their awards on a drizzly day at the KGV playing fields where toddlers from all the nurseries got involved in obstacle courses and fun outdoor activities to mark the occasion.
The Award recognises the work the places do in helping young children grow up happy, active, and healthy.
They achieve this by meeting a range of parameters including a holistic approach to health, healthier menus, strengthened partnerships with parents and local services and provision of practical resources like balance bikes and vegetable kits, making healthy habits engaging and fun for children.
Attended by the Patron of the Health Improvement Commission Liz Couch and Olympic and former marathon runner Lee Merrien, the following nurseries received the awards:
- Bright Beginnings Day Care
- Butterflies Pre-School
- Blanchelande College Nursery
- Little Angels Nursery
- Little Acorns Pre-School at St Anne’s School in Alderney
Karyn Merrien from Bright Beginnings said: “The children and staff are very excited about getting the award. They’ve all worked really hard for this achievement.
“We changed our menus, built a better partnership with our parents. We also did a lot more outdoor activities and more inside activities on rainy days.”
The Healthy Schools Award forms part of wider collaboration amongst the Early Years industry, the States Early Years Team and the Health Improvement Commission to improve local children’s health and wellbeing.
Parents are also seeing the benefits.
“Since my daughter started in Little Acorns (St Anne’s School, Alderney), there has been a consistent encouragement for healthy eating through such activities as smoothie and kebab making, which was a particular hit!” one parent said.
Another parent said: “Butterflies have an excellent exchange of information on healthy nutrition for children and adults with weekly prompts, advice and updates for our children to be motivated and excited about their health and nutrition at their age. Thank you everyone at Butterflies.”
Kate Hynes, Early Years Education Officer, hopes more settings will be accredited in future too.
“It’s great to be able to award five more Early Years settings across the Bailiwick with the Early Years Healthy Schools Award.
“The settings have worked tirelessly towards meeting the criteria set in the document. Managers have seen areas of strength in their practice and those that require further development. The award will now be reviewed to ensure it meets current guidelines and reflects the ever-changing needs of the young children in our care.’