Physical Activity and Nutrition

Physical activity & nutrition

gold standard

We are delighted to have achieved the Start Life Well Gold Award. This NDNA-led award has been designed to demonstrate our priorities in health, physical activity and wellbeing.

Our dedicated PANCo Lianne Smith, works across the nursery, and kitchen, to ensure that all children in our care benefit from daily physically activity, healthy eating and wellbeing support.

Supporting you and your child

Current guidelines recommend that children up to the age of 5 should be doing three hours of physical activity per day, and eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables. However, current studies show that only 1 in 5 children currently achieve this.

Physical activity and healthy eating directly affects children's long-term health and outcomes which is why we are so passionate about our PANCo's priorities. These are:

Put physical activity and nutrition guidelines into practice every day, across all rooms.
Support parents and families with healthy eating and physical activity at home
Motivate positive behaviour changes
Develop the children’s resilience and independence
Meet and exceed Ofsted’s expectations around the health and well-being of children, families and the nursery team

health and nutrition at home

We know that parents want to do their best by their children but that often time and money can limit even the best intentions. Here are some ideas you can try at home to help your child be physically active and to eat well.

1. Cook together and eat together - children love getting involved in grown-up activities and are much more likely to try new foods if they are involved in their preparation. Ask your child to help you make a healthy dinner or snack - choose the ingredients in the fruit and veg aisle, peel and prep them, and sit down to enjoy what you've made.

2. Grow your own - many children love to garden and seeing the way that fruit and vegetable develops helps them to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy snacks.

3. Make fitness fun - sports clubs and activities can be expensive, but chances are your child will have just as much fun running around the playground with you. You could try kite flying, plan treasure hunts or head to the seaside to explore the rockpools.

4. Ditch the car - the 3 hours of recommended physical activity is not just during nursery hours, it is from the moment they wake up until bedtime. Leave the car at home and head out on foot or by bike. It'll imprive your own health and wellbeing as well as your child's.