It is paramount for children and young people to have a foundation of good health from an early age, that will continue throughout their life.
This can be very challenging for families, and with the covid pandemic seeing an increase in obesity, dental decay, physical inactivity, and emotional and mental instability in under 5s, families are struggling to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Many early years settings in the borough have risen to the challenge and signed up to the early year’s health and wellbeing accreditation run by the council. The initiative supports early years settings to establish and develop the best health and wellbeing practices. These embedded practices benefit the whole family, and settings can showcase the great work they are doing.
The scheme has four levels of achievement; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, and settings are encouraged to work through each level of the accreditation at a sustainable pace, with support and guidance given from the moment of engagement, and throughout.
Five settings recently received their award. Four children’s centres, Penn Road, Monksfield Way, Chalvey Grove and Romsey Close achieved Platinum level and were presented their plaques by Councillor Christine Hulme, Lead Member for Children’s Services, Lifelong Learning and Skills.
Councillor Hulme said: “I am extremely proud to be here today presenting these awards to four of our children’s centres and one of our childminders here in Slough. We have fantastic early years settings throughout the borough, and the dedication of everyone who works in the sector always shines through especially on days like today.”
Marie-Claire Avis, Children’s Centre and Family Hubs Interim Group Manager, said: “The Platinum Award was achieved through the hard work and dedication of all the staff, who continually aspire to ensure high standards and key messages for the health and wellbeing of the children and families accessing our children’s centres and across Slough”
Kathy Szpur, a local childminder of 23 years was also presented with her framed certificate for achieving Silver. She said: “Working through the different areas of the accreditation has enabled us as a setting to add routines which our families and their children can use in the setting, and at home, which promotes health and wellbeing. Parents and children are very engaged. We’re also on our third round of certificates for a healthy lifestyle certification where the children get stickers for going to see a dentist, going for a family walk or trying new fruit or vegetables.”
If you are a parent/carer and would like to know more about the accreditation, please speak to your child’s early years setting.
If you are an early year’s provider and would like more information, please contact Jacqui Shadrache, Senior Health improvement Officer on 07889304302 or Jacqui.shadrache@slough.gov.uk