After-School Club Giving Children A Healthy Start

The Sunshine Kidz after-school club at Trelales Primary School has picked up an award for its outstanding efforts in giving children a healthy start to life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They’ve become Bridgend County Borough’s first after-school setting to achieve the new revised ‘Gold Standard Healthy Snack’ award in recognition of their efforts to provide healthy snacks and drinks, a suitable eating environment, and to follow appropriate hygiene standards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award has been developed locally in a multi-agency partnership with representatives from Bridgend County Borough Council, Public Health Wales, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, City and County of Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Several pre-school childcare settings have already earned the award, and they’ve now been joined by the Sunshine Kidz after-school club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paula Carter-Clare, who has been running Sunshine Kidz with Katherine Edmunds since it opened at the school in September 2014, said: “We wanted to be part of this scheme as we felt it was important that the children at our club have a healthy and nutritional snack while they are with us, and learn the positive benefits of eating and drinking healthily. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We didn’t want to fill them up with food that gave them little or no nutrition at all, so we were advised by the Childcare Development Officers at Bridgend County Borough Council who agreed that it would be beneficial to the children and the club if we were on board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have carried out a number of activities with the children based around healthy eating and we now only allow healthy snacks and either water or milk at the club. We’re really pleased with the positive effect that this award has had on the children and the healthy practices that we will continue when our holiday club opens in October half term.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hailey Townsend, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services and Equalities, said: “This award scheme is designed to raise awareness of healthy eating and demonstrate what can be achieved by providing nutritious snacks for children in childcare settings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many health habits are established at a young age, and the childcare settings participating in this scheme are promoting and following good practices that improve the health and wellbeing of young children.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Childcare Team has been closely involved from the outset of the award’s creation, and is looking forward to supporting many more other local childcare settings to help them achieve the award too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Childcare Team Manager Amy Castle said: “It’s lovely to see the children being involved in decisions regarding their menu planning and enjoying activities related to health.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award is open to playgroups, nurseries, childminders, parent and toddler groups, and out of school childcare clubs across the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area, and to find out more please contact Bridgend County Borough Council’s Childcare Team by calling 01656 642649. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​