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'Practice what you preach on health', early years staff are urged

Health Provision
Early years practitioners are being called on to set a good example and act as role models for children in order to promote healthy eating.

Linda Baston-Pitt, owner of the Old School House Day Nursery in Suffolk, one of the settings that trialled the new national early years nutrition guidelines, said that practitioners can only support children in leading a healthy lifestyle if their own health and well-being is looked after.

The nursery, which achieved an Investors in People Health and Well-Being good practice award, has introduced a number of measures to encourage healthy lifestyles for staff, including opening a cafe with free fruit and healthy drinks, and giving out pedometers for competing to see who can take the most steps.

Ms Baston-Pitt suggested that settings swap biscuits in the staffroom for fruit, have only water available to drink, and introduce a healthy tuck shop.

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