Brackla Nursery ‘Over The Moon’ To Achieve Healthy Snack Award

One of Bridgend County Borough’s newest nurseries has already picked up an award for its outstanding efforts in giving children a healthy start to life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Banana Moon nursery in Brackla has joined a growing list of local childcare settings that have achieved the ‘Gold Plus 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, Design to Smile and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Banana Moon nursery opened in April this year at The Triangle, Brackla, and is registered as a full day care nursery setting which caters for children aged up to five years-old. Lauren Sadler, Nursery Nurse, said: “We are delighted at Banana Moon to be part of such a great scheme. Children get to explore a variety of foods with a range of textures and tastes, and it also gives parents ideas for healthy snacks at home.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough Council’s childcare team worked closely with the staff at Banana Moon to help them set up the nursery, and has continued to offer support as they’ve worked towards the healthy eating award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hailey Townsend, the council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: “Many health habits are established at a young age, and the childcare settings participating in this scheme are following good practices that improve the health and wellbeing of young children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s much more beneficial for a child’s development if they are fuelled by food and drink that is nutritional, and that includes snacks as well as main meals. I’m delighted that so many childcare settings are spreading this healthy message far and wide across the county borough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award is open to playgroups, nurseries, childminders, parent and toddler groups, and out of school childcare clubs across the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​