Mariners’ goalkeeper opens new pre-school
FOCUS IS ON GETTING KIDS ACTIVE AND OUTDOORS
A NEW pre-school with a focus on getting children active and outdoors to benefit their mental health has been officially opened by Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown.
He cut the ribbon the morning after Grimsby Town managed to clinch a spot in the Football League playoffs as they hope to gain promotion back to League Two this season.
Located at the Bannatyne Health Club & Spa in Humberston, the Humberston Country Club Pre-School will give children the chance to participate in a range of sports, enjoy yoga classes, learn outdoor skills through Forest School and take part in a whole host of relaxation activities.
The Director of Early Years at Educare, Michelle Cook, told the Grimsby Telegraph: “We’re welcoming new children and we’ve not only got the preschool sessions but we’ve also got creche sessions too, so people who attend the gym can drop their children into creche for an hour or two.
“We’ve also got a Saturday morning club starting from 9am until 12pm for 3 to 8-year-olds, and we’ll also do a holiday club.
“We’ve got the usual pre-school activities that you’d find indoors, but we’ve also got Forest School. That’s our signature activity that is amongst all of our settings.
“It’s about cooking on an open fire, using tools and basically being outside and just being at one with nature and learning about the seasons.
“When the children are left to explore naturally during Forest
School sessions, the world is their oyster, they just do everything.
“Their exploration is amazing and they’re at their most relaxed when they’re out there.
“My thinking was that the behaviour that we embrace and the habits we form between the ages of two and four really impact our behaviour into adult life.
If we instil the enthusiasm towards sport and exercise at such a young age, then it’s likely to carry on into the children’s adult lives.
“Not only does the sport impact the children’s physical health but also their mental health by really increasing endorphins and relaxing them, but it’s ultimately having fun.
“The impact of Covid initially saw children’s language development being hindered but we found physical skills have as well.
“They’re not taking as many risks, the movements aren’t as big and they’re just a little bit apprehensive - that’s what we’ve noticed. So to get the opportunity to open up here was unbelievable.”
Shortly after cutting the ribbon to officially open the pre-school, James McKeown told the Grimsby Telegraph: “It’s been really nice to open the preschool today. I bring my daughter here as a dad and it’s really nice to be involved.
“For me as someone who wasn’t academically great, learning through sport was big for me, so for them to have this opportunity where they can play golf and tennis, it’s really nice for them.
“I think it’s so important that kids today still have that opportunity to be outdoors, like for us, it was all about playing out and climbing trees.
“To have that opportunity to be outside and try different things is great - because you never know if you are going to be good at something unless you try it - and I think PE gets pushed to the side a little bit nowadays, so I think it’s huge that they can do this from an early
age.”