The Healthy Early Years (HEY) programme and award scheme is funded by the public-health teams for Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. It is based on the success of the Healthy Schools programme across the three boroughs and started as a pilot programme in 2014. The programme is open to all early years settings, including children’s centres and nurseries, and its main aim is to support and encourage settings to develop and deepen their focus on health and wellbeing for the children and families with whom they work [1]. As of February 2016, 41% of boroughs (13) ran local Healthy Early Years programmes [2]. The Greater London Authority, however, is currently consulting on a London-wide Healthy Early Years programme. This would support and recognise good health and wellbeing practice and provision in all early years settings by providing tools, support and networking opportunities to raise quality and improve consistency across the capital [3]. |