The first of the five outcomes by which Ofsted inspects early years settings is 'Helping children to be healthy'. For children to develop and grow they need to have a healthy life-style, and settings need to ensure that they develop positive approaches to food and exercise from an early age.
This outcome is linked to:
* National Standards 7 and 8
* Birth to Three Matters - A healthy child
* Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage - Physical development.
National Standard 7 - health
* The environment is clean
* Children are aware of how to prevent the spread of infections
* Where appropriate, most children attend to their own personal hygiene
* Staff and children discuss the importance of good personal hygiene
* Staff have good hygiene standards
* Staff demonstrate an awareness of positive hygiene practices
* If there are animals in the setting that they do not pose a health risk to children
* In the event of an accident/incident that there are sufficient staff trained in first aid
* The first aid box is appropriately resourced
* Parents are informed of any accidents that relate to their child and countersign any documentation that relates to the accident
* Medicines are stored safely
* Parents have given their signed consent to their child receiving emergency treatment and medicines
* How you care for sick children and your sick child policy
* Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the premises.
Written evidence
Under the Children Act Regulations (Ofsted, 2001 & 2003) - both requirements of registration - you must:
* keep a record of all medicines administered to children.
* keep a signed record of all accidents to children, and notify Ofsted of any serious injury to or death of any child in your care or adults on the premises.
* notify Ofsted of any communicable diseases as defined by the Health Protection Agency.
Examples of good practice
The setting is cleaned daily to minimise the risk of infections. The hygiene practices are of a high standard and children wash their hands before meals. Children receive appropriate first aid, which is recorded and countersigned by parents. Children are administered only medicine that has been authorised by their parents. Sick children are sensitively cared for by staff.
National Standard 8 - food and drink
* Children can access fresh drinking water at all times
* Where appropriate, children can help themselves to drinks and snacks
* Staff make notes of children's drinking and eating habits
* Children have a choice of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks
* If appropriate children have access to healthy snacks throughout the day
* The views of parents and children are considered when planning meals
* The needs of children's individual dietary requirements have been accommodated - this includes cultural, religious and philosophical diets
* If parents provide food and drink for their child this is stored safely.
Examples of good practice
On a daily basis staff ensure that children experience a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Children access drinking water freely at all times, especially during the warmer weather and after physical activity.
Children are encouraged to prepare at least one healthy meal a week, which is shared with the whole setting. Parents regularly contribute to menu planning. Food brought in from home is stored safely.
Staff are very keen to share their knowledge of the benefits of healthy lifestyles with parents and how this links to children's physical, mental and emotional health.
Parents share their cooking techniques with staff. In turn, staff have learnt to appreciate the diverse culinary skills of the local community.
Staff have collated different recipes, which are shared with parents to use at home with their children.
Birth to Three Matters - a healthy child
* Children, dependent and independent, are healthy
* Staff support and guide children to make healthy choices
* Children know that they have at least one special person who they can relate to on a daily basis
* Children can express their feelings
* In order to develop and grow, children are well nourished
* Children have the opportunity to rest and take part in activities
* Children begin to recognise that their body is a part of them
* Children have the opportunity to practise and develop physical skills.
Examples of good practice
Staff know the importance of developing special relationships with children. Children take part in numerous physical activities indoors and outdoors, to promote their physical skills. Staff work with parents to provide developmentally appropriate meals. Parents are encouraged to continue breastfeeding. Sleep and rest times are organised around children's routines. Staff recognise and respect children's views and know when to offer support.
Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage - physical development
In the Foundation Stage, children:
* can safely, freely, confidently and imaginatively move around the setting
* can negotiate between objects and other individuals when moving
* have opportunities to walk, run and balance
* can walk forwards, backwards and sideways
* can adjust their bodies accordingly
* respond to challenging tasks to develop their large and small muscles
* manipulate large and small objects
* have access to a variety of large and small equipment and resources
* are able to understand how healthy lifestyles link directly to diet, exercise and hygiene
* are aware of the changes to their bodies during activities
Examples of good practice
Children are set many challenges to enhance their physical skills. They have many opportunities to be active and regular outdoor trips are planned.
Children are provided with a selection of mark-making resources to develop their small muscles. Many children use their hand-eye co-ordination to thread, button and to operate programmable equipment. Children use their large muscles to build dens in the outdoor area. Children use their imagination to organise their own games that involve running, balancing and walking. The organisation of the room helps children to negotiate around equipment and others. Children have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the effects that food and exercise has on their bodies and how their bodies change during activities.
Points to consider
Consider as a team:
* your influence as practitioners
* activities and experiences provided
* equipment and resources made available for children
* your responsibilities to children and their families.
Staff should make an effort to ensure that children's health and well-being are fostered on a daily basis. NW
Laura Henry of Childcare Consultancy, www.childcareconsult.co.uk
About this series
In line with the current inspection process and the Children Act 2004, Ofsted will not now give settings notice of inspection and will assess how they meet children's needs within the following five outcomes:
* Helping children to be healthy
* Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe
* Helping children to enjoy and achieve
* Helping children make a positive contribution to the provision and wider community
* Helping children to achieve economic well being.
This series, therefore, aims to show settings:
* how the National Standards, Birth to Three Matters and Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage link to each of the outcomes
* what relevant evidence to gather. With no notice of inspection, all the required evidence needs to be in place at all times
* what practice they should aspire to.
Inspection process
Observations
The inspector will observe the experiences that the setting offers to children and whether or not they help children to achieve the Every Child Matters aims and objectives. Observations will also be made of staff interacting with children and children interacting with each other.
Documents
Most of the documents that you will need to present at inspection are also a requirement of registration. These should include your policies and procedures, children's assessments, observations, curriculum planning and photographs of children engaged in activities. All staff should know where they are stored and it is vital that they are readily available.
Discussion
The inspector will ask you specific questions, regarding your practice and how you meet the National Standards and help children to achieve the outcomes.
Further information
* Ofsted, 2001 & 2003, Full Day Care: Guidance to the National Standards
* Sure Start (2002) Birth to Three Matters: A framework to support children in their earliest years, DfES
* www.everychild matters.gov.uk
* www.ofsted.gov.uk
* www.dfes.gov.uk
* www.dh.gov.uk