Kent Healthy Early Years Pilot

March 2009 - March 2010

The critical need for early intervention has seen the Extended Service team within Kent County Council, Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT and West Kent PCT join forces to develop a Healthy Early Years pilot for Kent. Based on the National Healthy Schools Programme, the pilot has been set up to develop and evaluate the potential of early years settings to be health promoting environments which encourage children, families, staff and the local community to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The first five years of a child's life is a critical time for establishing a healthy start to ensure positive health outcomes throughout adulthood. The pilot aims to help children develop healthy behaviours, raise levels of achievement, reduce health inequalities and promote social inclusion. It will support children, parents, carers and staff to reach their potential by building on a solid foundation of health, wellbeing and happiness. In particular:

  • Children will be encouraged to make healthier choices.
  • Parents, carers and staff will become more informed about health issues, involved in addressing them and have access to wider support from the community and other agencies.
  • Consultation with children, parents and carers will mean they will have more opportunities to share their views and ideas and know they will be acted upon.
  • Links with the EYFS, Ofsted SEF and Every Child Matters ensure that settings can use the whole setting approach to bring about sustained improvements in the quality of their practice.

The pilot was launched in September 2009, following a five month period of planning and development, in consultation with colleagues in Education (KCC) and Health (NHS). The materials for the pilot focus on four themes: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED); Healthy Eating; Physical Activity; Emotional Health and Wellbeing. These themes are based on the National Healthy Schools Programme but have been adapted for use in early years settings.  For the purposes of the pilot, each setting is focusing on one theme.

Currently, 25 years settings across 13 Local Children's Services Partnerships in Kent are taking part in the pilot (Dartford East and West, Gravesham, Tonbridge, Malling, Maidstone 1 and 2, Ashford 1 and Ashford Rural, Deal and Sandwich, Dover, Shepway and Thanet 1).  A range of settings have been identified to take part and include urban, rural, full day care and sessional.  Five of these settings are linked to Children's Centres.  The pilot runs until January 2010. Collation of findings, dissemination and recommendations for future action will take place between February and March 2010 and will include focus group research undertaken by Canterbury Christchurch University.

Support for the settings is provided through facilitator visits (early years specialists), advice from Healthy Schools Practitioners and Practitioner Specialists, networking events, project officer visits and a range of partners (Food in Schools Dietitian, oral health, nursery nurses, road safety etc.).

 

 | Published: 30-10-09  | TOP