This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Childcare and Workforce Lead for Children and Families, Clare Thompson, for the attention of all Early Years settings.
Please find attached a letter to all Early Years providers from Vicky Ford, Minister for Children and Families and Jo Churchill, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care.
The letter pulls together some important advice and guidance on support for children’s health and wellbeing which we urge all Early Years providers to be aware of.
Availability of Some Key Resources:
- There is a food safety resource on the Help for Early Years Providers online service, this guidance includes advice on safe weaning, foods to avoid, how to prepare food safely to avoid choking and preparing food hygienically.
- The Eat Better, Start Better practical guide is a useful document which helps providers meet the requirement for the provision of healthier, balanced and nutritious food and drink.
- Public Health England guidance recommends dry brushing models without the use of water or sinks to minimise infection transmission risks.
- The Child Accident Prevention Trust have also published a one page poster that providers may wish to have up in their food preparation area as a helpful resource for staff, particularly if they are newly qualified
- Public Health England’s example menus and useful guidance for Early Years settings to help meet the EYFS requirements for food and drink. This comprehensive guidance was prepared in 2017 by the Children’s Food Trust and informed by an External Reference Group. It includes menus and useful information for early years settings, for example, to provide only fresh tap water and plain milk for children to drink.
- The Chief Medical Officer has published guidance on physical activity which practitioners will find useful to refer to when planning their EYFS curriculum. This recommends a minimum of 180 minutes of physical activity every day for children aged 1-5.
- Providers may find this list of mental health resources for parents, carers, children, and staff useful when planning their approach.
- Finally, to support early years providers negotiate the various guidance available on managing their settings during the COVID-19 outbreak, we have drawn the information together into one guidance document: actions for Early Years providers to take during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.