Healthy hero makes flying visit to Jacks
NURSERY kids have received a visit from a special guest to congratulate them on their work to keep healthy.
Rochelle, the mum in Rochdale council’s Healthy Heroes family, popped in to see what Littleborough nursery Happy Jacks is doing to teach children about the importance of keeping active and eating well.
The children were taking part in an outdoor activity when Rochelle dropped by.
The nursery, which has 50 children between six months and four years old, made Rochelle feel welcome by dressing up as superheroes and reading superhero stories.
Suzanne Dowd, nursery manager at Happy Jacks, said: “We are passionate about making healthy choices and we want to ensure the children in our care are given the best opportunities.
“We pay for the children to take part in a King Coaching sports coaching session every week which comes at no cost to parents, and we are working on including parents in The Daily Toddle which begins this month - the Healthy Heroes goodies are ready to go.”
Staff at Happy Jacks regularly take the children outdoors with coaching sessions, outdoor play and walks to Littleborough Park.
The children snack on fruit and drink milk and water throughout the day, ensuring healthy levels of sugar consumption.
This week Public Health England revealed that children in the UK exceed the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18-year-old by the time they are ten.
Coun Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at the council, said: “The early years, from birth to age five, are a vital time in a child’s development of healthy habits, and Happy Jacks is setting an excellent example of implementing early years’ interventions.
“Happy Jacks’ work is invaluable and the council would love to support other settings to set up healthy initiatives to help the children of Rochdale grow up healthy and happy.”
If you would like support in introducing healthy initiatives to your early years setting or school, or if you’d like Rochelle to visit you, contact Rochdale council at healthy.heroes@rochdale.gov.uk.