Analysis of Children's Health and Well-being in Early Years Settings

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of children's health and well-being, focusing on the early years settings. It explores various factors such as disabilities, gender, cultural and religious differences that can significantly impact a child's development. The report further examines national and local initiatives like the '5 a day campaign,' 'School fruit and veg scheme,' 'Start4life,' and 'Change4life,' along with local council programs aimed at promoting children's health. A crucial part of the report analyzes the role of early years practitioners in maintaining a healthy environment, emphasizing the importance of balanced diets, hygiene, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. The report underscores the need for practitioners to collaborate with parents/carers to ensure children's holistic well-being.

CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND
WELL BEING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
4.1 Describe factors within the early years settings which may impact upon the health and
well-being of children.................................................................................................................1
4.2 Evaluate national and local initiatives which promote children's health and well-being.....3
4.3 Analyse the role of the early years practitioner in maintaining a healthy environment for
children........................................................................................................................................4
4.4 Evaluate benefits of working in partnership with parents/carers in relation to children's
health and well-being..................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
.........................................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In modern world, it can be said that early years practitioners plays a crucial role when it
comes to control child's health and well being (Biddle and Asare, 2011). It is being found that
there are ample number of people all over United Kingdom who keeps thinking that well being
mostly stays connected with food along with nutrition. But in present scenario, there are various
elements that should be consider related to children to prevent children from infection. Report is
going to include many things like different factors that are related to early years settings, national
and local initiatives in order to promote health and well-being of children and many more that
will help out in understanding the concept of children's health & well being.
TASK
4.1 Factors within the early years settings which may impact upon the health and well-being of
children
Early years practitioner is the person who helps children's development. Health and well
being are some major concerns that which are related to children is mainly focused by
government of United Kingdom. It has been found that mainly, people things that well being is
mostly carries interconnection with food or nutritions. But, it is more than that because there are
various factors that are linked with children which are affecting their mind and physical
development. Early years settings majorly stays connected with ample number of benefits. It is
required for parents to understand that what exact things are being provided by early years
practitioners which is aiding them in enhancing health and nutritive level of children.
It is being found that there are ample number of factors that are related to early years
settings which are impacting on health and well being of children some of these are mentioned
beneath:
Disabilities: This is being considered as one of the crucial factor of early years settings
that impacts upon health and well being of children. It is required for early years practitioners to
understand what disability a child is having. This can be done through talking to parents of the
child because they know about what problems he/she is having. With the help of this, early years
practitioners can take proper care of that person. Delivering appropriate services like if child is
blind than give him/her Braille books.

Gender: Another factor within the early year settings that may affect children's health
and their well being as well. Therefore, it is pretty much required for early years practitioners to
understand the difference between boy and girl child because their body, behaviour and
perception differs from each other. It is necessary for the person to deal with boy and girl child
according to their behaviour respectively so that they can easily improve their products and
services.
Promoting: Promoting health and well being among parents of children and making them
aware of deadly diseases can taken as another factor of early year practitioners that may affect
positively on health and well-being of children. Thus, it is required for early years practitioners
in settings to conduct different workshops, seminars, campaigns and many more.
Promote resilience, value and self-esteem: In order to thrive children more confident, it
is required for early years practitioners to go through different aspects so that they can develop
proper thinking among kids that they can make their own decisions. Through this, development
of their mind can easily be done right on time. Therefore, practitioner who are providing services
to children should be efficient and talented in nature.
Providing a welcoming environment: It is being found that environment in which a child
is raised should be more hygienic. On the other hand, it can be said that early years settings
should be filled with different things which will help children where they can feel comfortable
and happy. A warm and full of coloured environment can be considered as something that every
single kid likes to have where he/she can play (Bradshaw, 2016).
Cultural and religious differences: Early years practitioners should be well aware that
children that he/she is going to take care of cultural and religious backgrounds. It is required for
practitioner to know about cultural differences because than only, he/she can provide appropriate
services to child. But, it is mandatory for the person to deal with group in same manner and try to
develop their knowledge related to various religions so that they do not get into problem in near
future (Brown, 2011).
Henceforth, these are some of factors related to early years settings which can put impact
on health and well-being of children. It is being found that person can get easily help child to
adopt knowledge of different things if he/she will be cooperative.

4.2 National and local initiatives which promote children's health and well-being
In order to promote well being, it can be said that there are various incentives which
could be utilised in early years settings. Government of UK have taken ample number of
initiatives in order to promote Children's health and well being like NHS started health advisory
line where a person can call on toll free number 111 and choose the concern among various
components and ask anything from health care specialists. In present context, incentives are
concerned with distinctive promotional actions that helped governments and other private
institutions spreading awareness among parents. On the other hand, it can also be said that proper
nutrition is very much necessary for keeping children healthy. Therefore, it is required for
parents along with promoters to understand about different concepts that are related to nutritions
so that effective initiatives can be taken by them in order to promote well being along with health
of children as well. Some of national incentives are given beneath:
5 a day campaign: In United Kingdom, this initiative was taken by government and
funded by health care department of this country in order to promote aim of this campaign
among parents that their children needs to eat around 5 portions of fruit or may be vegetables
every single day (Gilbert, Parton and Skivenes, 2011). With the help of this, nutritions can easily
get into their bodies which directly can put positive impact on their health. On the other hand,
main motive of this campaign was to decrease the rate of different deadly diseases like cancer
and many more. Another objective of people who conducted this campaign was to spread
awareness among citizens of UK to reduce percentage of children who were becoming
overweight.
School fruit and veg scheme: It can be said that this scheme was a part of 5 a day
campaign where governmental bodies and private schools started giving a piece of fruit at school
time so that they can get used to it even if it is not being provided by their parents at home. This
initiative has helped enhancing nutritive level among children of citizens of UK. This feature or
initiative was taken by NHS where no children will be having any sort of disorders and live a
happy and healthy life. This initiatory was taken because this country knows it really very well
that children are their future who can develop their nation.
Start4life: NHS and government of United Kingdom took another initiative and planned
to deliver advice to pregnant women at the time when they are carrying a baby in womb

(Uterus). This information was majorly being given to woman when he/she visits child care
provisioner and try to enrol themselves.
Change4life: Another incentive has been taken by NHS to promote healthy activities
along with exercises among families. So that they can easily make appropriate choices that are
related to health. Aim of presenting this campaign was that to improve healthy living of adults
and become an example for their own children (Hirshkowitz and et. al., 2015).
Food labelling: This can be taken as the best incentives where health care sector decided
to give proper information to people that are related to percentage of ingredients and how many
of them are present in food that will consume. This has helped people in understanding about
healthy and food that can be dangerous for them.
Local initiatives
There are many local council of different cities of England which promote children's
health and well-being. Local Government Association (LGA) is one of them which have made
campaigns for children and young people in order to promote proper health and well being
among them. Some of initiatives that are being taken by this council for children are: Cheaper swimming for children: This is being considered as an initiative that has been
taken by the council has helped parents in sending their children for swimming. Cheaper
rates has helped them in taking to their children to swimming pool on a regular basis
which impacted positively on their health.
 Activity days for children: There are many health and well being related campaigns that
are being made by local councils which has been made by them. This has impacted
positively on health of children. Apart from this, making a proper relatable place where
children can play and does activities which may directly affect health in positive manner.
On the other hand, there are some other local incentives as well that are being made by
local bodies. Go4Fun etc. has impacted positively on health of children. Henceforth, these are
some initiatives that can be taken as proper initiatives which helped children to improve their
nutrition level and well being.
4.3 Role of the early years practitioner in maintaining a healthy environment for children
It has been analysed that, early years practitioners have taken various initiatives which
has helped them in giving support to children related to eating and well being. It is required for
health care practitioners to work with parents or with carers so that promotion of well being and

health can be done in much effective and efficient manner. In modern era, it is required for
practitioners to develop effective strategies so that promotion of health among parents can easily
be done. On the other hand, it is being found that proper and healthy environment can be
developed with the help of early years settings.
According to the inspections which was done by NHS, many health care professionals
have taken ample number of initiatives in order to support children (Inchley and Currie, 2013).
Approach was found in the year of 2015, where it was announced that childcare providers need
to understand the concepts and be aware of all modifications that are taking place in need of
children or in their nutritions. Healthy eating along with exercise are the two major elements that
are taken care properly by parents of children, then it is may be possible that they become much
healthier and their immune system can becomes very strong.
As per Kelly, (2015), Ofsted's inspection which took place, clearly showed that balanced
diet is must for every single individual whether it is a child or a matured person. On the other
hand, the kitchen area where food is being prepared of children should be bacteria free. There are
some initiatives which needs to be taken by parents along with care takers in order to gain
proper benefits in much effective manner. Some of initiates that early years practitioner can take
in order to develop a healthy environment are given beneath:
 At mealtimes, early years practitioner can play calm music which can put positive impact
on children's mind. This may positively create healthy environment.
 At homes, child care houses, effective and motivational slogan based images should be
displayed. This could help small kids or it can influence matured person as well through
which healthy lifestyle can be lived by them.
 Decorating rooms with different things that have been made by kids, giving children time
where they can play as much as they want.
 Practitioners should develop a habit of eating with kids so that effective bond can be
made. This can also put positive impact on behaviours and health of children.
 Helping children and teach them about different things like usage of cutlery and many
other things as well.
 Try different strategies like integrating activities related to food at mealtime can be an
effective approach through which environment can be maintained (Ludwig and et. al.,
2012).

Henceforth, it can easily be said that early years practitioner play a crucial role in
developing a healthy environment for children. On the other hand, there are ample number of
roles and responsibilities that a practitioner is having which he/she should keep on altering them
as per requirements of kids.
4.4 Benefits of working in partnership with parents/carers in relation to children's health and
well-being
Working in partnership with parents or carers can help out in knowing about existing
requirements and health conditions of children. It has been found that in previous years, early
years practitioner do not used to take advice from parents and carried an attitude of “We know
what is best and good for your own child”. It was an unhelpful behaviour and impacted badly on
nutritive level of children. This reduced belief of parents or carers from early years practitioners.
But, in modern world, whole scenario has just got changed where early years practitioners tries
to develop relation with parents so that they can know about their children (Marmot and Bell,
2012).
With the help of this, they can properly focus on weak points that kids having, through
which proper learning and development of their mind and health can easily be maintained of
kids. It is required for early years practitioners to get the information related to different factors
like dietary requirements, likes and dislikes of food according to the perception of child as per
health needs, allergies, some special preferences and many more. For an example: If a child is
going through with some problems and if early year practitioners are not aware of it then it is
may be possible that wrong diagnosis or wrong exercises which child have ask to do, can harm
him/her. Some of benefits related to these are given beneath in detailed manner.
Dietary requirements: If a child is going through an issue and some nutrients are lacking
in him/her. Then it is responsibility of early year practitioners to take proper information of that
child from carer or by parents. This may help in selecting appropriate diet chart for the children
as per the need and requirements (Neff, 2011).
Likes and dislikes of food: In modern era, children majorly do not like vegetables and
eats a very little. Therefore, it can be said that if early year practitioners keeps on looking at
different aspects and asks about information related to food from parents that what their children
likes to eat and what not.

Allergies: Fungal or skin allergies are common nowadays among kids. Therefore, it is
required for early year practitioners to ask from parents that if their child is having any sort of
allergy or not. Because of this, it can be said that person will keep things away from kid which
may put child in trouble (Reiss, 2013). It has also been analysed that early years practitioners
sometimes go against the advice which has been given by parents of a child. Here, if a child is
having fungal allergy and he/she is not allowed to eat tortilla made up of flour but, practitioner is
advising parents to make their child that only because he know better what is good for the
person. This can be considered as an issue that may bring conflicts among parents and
practitioner which can affect health and well-being of a child.
Special preferences: It is being found that children in modern world goes through ample
number of situations which can be both negative or positive in nature. Therefore, it can be said
that it is required for early year practitioners to understand the behaviour, perceptions and other
things through which many benefits can easily be gained right on time (Sawyer and et. al., 2012).
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that, it is the responsibility of early years
practitioners to maintain proper relationship with parents and carers. This may help them in
asking about different things like issues that children are having. With the help of this, it can be
said that proper initiatives can easily be taken by them for their children. Meal schedule and diet
chart should be determined for children as per every single day then in order to provide them
proper nutrition. Through this, children will stay healthy as they are the future of this world.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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trends and orientations. OUP USA.
Hirshkowitz, M. and et. al., 2015. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration
recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health. 1(1). pp.40-43.
Inchley, J. and Currie, D., 2013. Growing up unequal: gender and socioeconomic differences in
young people’s health and well-being. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
(HBSC) study: international report from the. 2014.
Ludwig, J. and et. al., 2012. Neighborhood effects on the long-term well-being of low-income
adults. Science. 337(6101). pp.1505-1510.
Marmot, M. and Bell, R., 2012. Fair society, healthy lives. Public health. 126. pp.S4-S10.
Neff, K. D., 2011. Self‐compassion, self‐esteem, and well‐being. Social and personality
psychology compass. 5(1). pp.1-12.
Reiss, F., 2013. Socioeconomic inequalities and mental health problems in children and
adolescents: a systematic review. Social science & medicine. 90. pp.24-31.
Sawyer, S.M. and et. al., 2012. Adolescence: a foundation for future health. The Lancet.
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