A ‘Bright Beginning’ for pre-schoolers’ health

The Bright Beginnings Nursery in Tythegston has shown that it’s leading the way at giving young children a healthy start in life after completing a prestigious national scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It has become the first pre-school setting in Bridgend County Borough to complete the ‘Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funded by the Welsh Government and co-ordinated by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Childcare Team in partnership with Public Health Wales, the scheme covers several aspects of health aimed at improving the wellbeing of young children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nutrition, oral health, physical activity, safety, hygiene, mental health, relationships and emotional health are among the topics covered by the scheme, which the Bright Beginnings Nursery has worked on for the last four years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Bridgend County Borough, a total of 26 pre-school settings are participating in the scheme and Kate Parry, the council’s Healthy Pre-School Practitioner, said: “A large number of nursery staff across the county borough are doing a fantastic job in actively promoting nutritious meals and dental health to the parents of their pre-schoolers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The scheme encourages the highest standards of practice, and the staff at Bright Beginnings have worked extremely hard to complete the scheme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sandra Long, the Manager of Bright Beginnings, said: “The Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme has been an invaluable part of the nursery’s development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It has provided us with a means in which to enhance our partnerships with our children, parents, our team as well as outside agencies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Through this scheme, we have been given excellent resources and training opportunities which have improved our staff’s skills. They have brought these skills back to the workplace and have provided excellent education to the children in their care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have been given fantastic information regarding health matters and healthy eating, which has had a positive influence on the children’s well-being and awareness. The introduction of the tooth brushing scheme in conjunction with Design to Smile has also proven to be a success within our setting.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hailey Townsend, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services and Equalities, said: “Many important habits are established at a young age, making the pre-school environment an ideal time to influence a child’s health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Hundreds of pre-school children are benefiting from this scheme across the county borough and it is great to hear that the Bright Beginnings Nursery has made such excellent strides.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To find out more about the Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme, please contact Kate Parry at Bridgend County Borough Council by calling 01656 642649. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​