NURSERY WORLD HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD DOUBLE NATIONAL FINALISTS
We are thrilled that Nursery World has shortlisted two of our nurseries within their six Health and Wellbeing award national finalists. The award recognises nurseries that prioritise and improve the physical health and emotional well-being of children and staff. We promote health and well-being in many ways. For example, by creating a relaxed and calm atmosphere, providing fresh healthy food, getting plenty of fresh air and time in nature, working closely with families, and supporting mental health.
Relaxed and calm atmosphere
Our positive, calm, supportive culture nurtures well-being. Each individual is welcomed, listened to and valued. Our key worker system and stable groups of children enable the children, staff and families to develop strong bonds. Research shows that happy healthy children do better in education. In our last survey 98% of parents stated that their child is happy at Elmscot. Also that our staff most highly value our ‘friendly, welcoming, team, and supportive management.
Food
Staff and children enjoy our Soil Association Food for Life accredited, paediatric dietician approved, healthy food, which is freshly prepared using locally sourced produce. Children cook, grow and learn about food through engaging activities, from growing their own to cooking for cultural celebrations.
Plenty of Fresh Air
Our idyllic locations enable much of our time to be spent outdoors, in our large gardens, the local park and the Cheshire countryside. Fresh air is good for asthma, boosts our immune system and contributes to a good night’s sleep. A child’s brain is 90% developed by the age of six. It is important to be outdoors as much as possible during this time, where there are higher oxygen levels, which contribute to better brain development.
As children traditionally did, we enjoy stimulating open-ended exploring in nature (by which we mean the wild, natural countryside as opposed to gardens and buildings). Children are biophiles (naturally connect to nature) and neophiles (love to connect to new things). Nature has both, always changing with the seasons. Time in nature reduces stress, depression & anxiety. It has the same effect on ADHD as Ritalin. Bacterium Vacae in mud increases serotonin levels, calms and relaxes and makes us happier.
With inspiring activities – such as creating book characters from sticks, tree identification or completing an obstacle course – our adventures in the wild involve physicality, active learning through play, imagination, creativity, collaborating, thinking critically and problem-solving. The children learn to test themselves, take responsibility, and work things out, embedding the skills to grow and adapt to whatever the future holds. For example, their den falling apart and having to be rebuilt builds resilience for life’s bigger challenges and unpredictable events.
These natural, soothing experiences, prompt happiness, confidence and self-esteem. They also inspire a love of nature, sustainability and the local area, developing the children’s sense of belonging. Belonging is enhanced with strong local community links. The children are involved in exploring their local community and giving back, from providing defibrillators to food bank donations, nursing home visits, litter picking, and random acts of kindness.
Our beautiful, well-equipped nurseries and large gardens are used to deliver activities better suited to these environments – from building a bear indoors to fruit growing in the garden. Our bright airy spacious rooms, with natural furnishings, and cosy well-being spaces create a calm, relaxed home from home environment.
Working with Families
As the most important people in their child’s life, families are part of our nursery community from the day that they enrol, with access to the Elmscot Families Club and events from advice sessions to parents’ forest school. Our award-winning team offer incredible warmth and understanding. They build firm relationships with parents and babies, with comprehensive settling-in sessions to ensure babies are secure and happy by the time they start, and smooth transitions between age groups through long settling-in sessions and extensive staff interaction. Home learning is supported with two-way communication via our Parent App and in person, for example sharing activity suggestions, weekly menus, achievements and daily updates.
Inspiring Staff
We support each child to reach their full potential, by ensuring that activities are tailored to their stage and learning style. Children learn most effectively when they are having fun, first-hand experiences. We plan learning and outcomes, adapting as we go according to the children’s interests. Our multi-award-winning, highly skilled practitioners use creative approaches to deliver exciting activities, designed to capture the children’s imagination and curiosity, nurturing life-long learners. Our extracurricular activities, from bushcraft to yoga, forest school and STEM deliver inspiring learning opportunities.
Supporting Health
There is widespread concern over what impact the pandemic has had on the mental health of children and early years staff. We support positive mental health in many ways. For example, enabling the children to understand their emotions and self-regulate through mindful activities, exploring emotions, sharing feelings and always being kind. Our staff enjoy random acts of kindness, such as an extra day off for their birthday, team events and rewards and most importantly the support of each other. Our team includes mental health champions, Level 2 qualified in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health, (early childhood) or Awareness of Mental Health Problems, (adult and workplace), to equip them with the skills to support any concerns. All of our staff are pediatric first aid trained, and each nursery has a defibrillator.
This is the fourth time that we have been shortlisted for a national wellbeing award – recognising our industry-leading, unique approach to supporting health and wellbeing to achieve the best outcomes for every child and to support our team.
