Denbighshire County Council has launched its Healthy Pre – School Scheme with 11 nurseries and playgroups taking up the challenge.
The scheme aims to recognise good practice and encourages establishments to promote health and wellbeing to children, staff, parents and the community.
This scheme is run in partnership with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Family Information Service, Designed to Smile, National Day Nurseries Association, Welsh Pre School Playgroup Association, Mudiad Meithrin and funded by Welsh Government and Flying Start.
The Welsh Government has set criteria in 6 different health areas which the settings will have to meet, including: – Nutrition and Oral Health, Physical Activity/Active Play, Mental and Emotional Health Well-being and Relationships, Environment, Safety and Workplace Health and Well-being.
The groups involved in the first stage of the scheme are: – Cylch Meithrin Aber Clwyd, Happy Days Nursery, Sam’s Learning Tree, Clever Cloggs, Little Acorns, Playdays Playgroup, Little Angels, Cylch Meithrin Dinbych Ucha, Snuggles Day Nursery, Y Bwthyn Bach and Little Learners.
The settings will be involved in many exciting projects and initiatives such as Designed to Smile, a National tooth brushing programme and Tiny Tums, a local programme to train staff on nutrition and menu planning to ensure children have balanced and nutritious meals.
The scheme follows the success of the Healthy Schools Scheme which has been running in Denbighshire for over 10 years with all schools signed up and 23 schools currently working towards their National Quality Award.
Suzie Lochead, Healthy Pre Schools Officer said “ It’s encouraging to see the healthy schools scheme expanded into pre school settings as it has seen so many successes over the years and has really made a difference to schools. It will be great to start teaching children the importance of health from a younger age and create consistency between pre school and schools.”
