Promoting health and wellbeing in 0-5 years settings: a ...

1 Promoting health and wellbeing in 0-5 years settings: a guide 2013 Edition CONTENTS Aim and Introduction, Key Contacts, Key Policies Sharing information to benefit children and families Section 1 Structures and Resources Section 2 supporting Families Section 3 Pre-school Education Section 4 Child Protection Section 5 Controlling Infection Section 6 Food Safety Section 7 Injury Prevention and First Aid Section 8 Positive Mental health and wellbeing Section 9 Oral health and Pre-School Orthoptic Vision Screening Section 10 Food and health Section 11 Physical Activity and Healthy Weight Section 12 Play Section

2 13 Additional Support Needs Section 14 Training Section 15 Resource List Glossary and Index This guidance is also available at Please check here for the latest version Aim and Introduction 1 2013 AIM The aim of Promoting health and wellbeing in 0-5 years settings: a guide is to provide information and advice to help you to ensure that your early years provision contributes to the health and wellbeing of children and families. This update has been produced by Highland Council s Childcare and early Education Service, with advice from NHS Highland, early years organisations and partners.

3 This 2013 version includes new national and local guidance and notes the introduction of the integrated health and Social Care service for children and young people, led by Highland Council. Promoting health and wellbeing in 0-5 years settings: a guide supports Highland Council s Nursery Guidelines and Policies and Care and Learning Alliance guidance. WHO IS THIS GUIDE FOR? Anyone working in groups with young children from 0 to 5 years old and their families in Highland toddler groups, playgroups, all-day nurseries, pre-school education providers, out of school care clubs, family support organisations, health and social care services should find useful information here.

4 The guide draws together the main topics in one place and offers suggestions for further contacts or details. WHY HAVE A GUIDE? Scotland has among the highest rates of coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke and obesity/overweight among developed countries and the Highlands are no exception to this pattern. Getting a good start in the very early years enables healthy all-round development and lays the foundations for long-term wellbeing . Nationally, the early years are now recognised as a vital stage at which to influence positive outcomes for children, especially those who may be vulnerable for any reason.

5 Aim and Introduction 2 2013 The Government s health action plan, Better health , Better Care (2007) states: By getting it right in the early years and supporting good healthy choices and behaviours amongst children and young people, we can set them on a trajectory where they can sustain good health throughout their lives. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE If you work in a registered provision with young children, you will already have a series of policies and guidance in place. What this guide does is to point you to areas you should know about or consider, highlight important aspects and suggest sources of advice.

6 The guide is arranged in numbered sections to cover the main topics, as listed on the Contents page and referred to in the Index. In many cases you will find that the guide refers you to a source where you can find more detailed information, such as a website, a document, an individual or an agency. We recommend you read Sections 1 to 3 first, for an introduction to the context of health and wellbeing in the early years . KEY GUIDANCE boxes summarise important points. The loose-leaf format has been chosen so that when policies alter or new resources become available, updates can be inserted.

7 The latest version of the guide will be found at and on GLOW (see Curriculum for Excellence health and wellbeing section) As your first step, please complete the following page Our Key Contacts and place it in the front of your folder. Many people have helped to compile the original guide and this updated version and their help is gratefully acknowledged. In particular, we would like to thank Care and Learning Alliance, Action for Children, NHS Highland and Highland Council staff for their contributions. Childcare & early Education Service/NHS Highland Tel.

8 01463 711176 Aim and Introduction 3 2013 OUR KEY CONTACTS: If you need help with local telephone numbers, please contact: Childcare & early Education Service tel. 01463 711176 For health Centres: NHS Highland tel. 01463 701318 Our Link health Visitor/Public health Nurse Every pre-school education provider has a named Link health Visitor , who is part of the public health nursing team. Link health Visitor/ Public health Nurse: Name_____ Tel. Our nearest health Centre Name _____ Address _____ _____ Telephone number_____ Childcare and Family Resource Officer Name _____ Telephone number _____ Local Social Work Services office Telephone number _____ Emergency Social Work Services: Tel.

9 0845 769 7284 Aim and Introduction 4 2013 Aim and Introduction 5 2013 INTRODUCTION Welcome to Promoting health and wellbeing in 0-5 years settings: a guide. We hope you will find that the contents help you in your work with young children and families and also benefit staff and volunteers. It is widely acknowledged that the first few years of a child s life are crucial to their healthy development and will have a fundamental influence on their later wellbeing .

10 Parents and other family members are children s prime carers and educators, but increasingly, early years practitioners play an important part in determining the quality of a child s environment and experiences. The World health Organisation s definition of health , 1948: health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is the first few years of a child s life, including the antenatal period, that start to lay the foundations for a person s long-term development.