The Healthy Early Years London Programme (HEYL) is an award scheme funded by the Mayor of London which supports and recognises achievements in child health, wellbeing and development in early years settings.
Local services
To see which Havering Early Years Settings and Childminders are registered with the programme and for more information visit Healthy Early Years London.
Healthy Early Years is an essential area of Public Health
We all want to help London’s children have a healthy and happy start to life.
A good start to life has sustained effects into adolescence and adulthood.
Early Years settings can lay the foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing as they help children prepare for school by encouraging their physical and cognitive development and building their emotional resilience.
- The HEYL Programme helps to reduce health inequalities by supporting a healthy start to life across themes that include healthy eating, oral health, physical activity, immunisations to protect health in the future, and early cognitive development.
- HEYL complements and enhances the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework, by adding to the focus on children, families and staff health and wellbeing.
Healthy Early Years is an area of Public Health focus in Havering
Key facts
- The latest National Child Measurement Programme data shows that 22.2 percent of children in Havering aged 4 – 5 years old (school year reception) are overweight or obese.
- The 2021/22 Dental Health Survey data shows that a quarter (24.8 percent) of children in Havering had visible dental decay.
- School readiness: By the end of Reception year in 2021/22, 66.8 percent of children in Havering achieved a good overall level of development. This is slightly below London (70.0 percent) and similar to England (67.7 percent).
What we do in Havering
The most effective way of improving health in this age group is to take a whole-setting approach, engaging children, staff, parents, carers and the wider community.
The Healthy Early Years London Programme provides early years settings with resources to develop policies and practices that will encourage children and their families to make healthy lifestyle choices both now and in the future.
Key initiatives
- In Healthy Early Years settings and at home, children will be supported to eat healthily, stay active, sleep well, engage in learning activities, recognise, express and manage their feelings, take care of their teeth, and live in a smoke-free environment.
- All Havering early years settings are eligible to participate in the programme and it is free to join. Settings then can progress through the HEYL Awards Pathway to gain their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.
- Havering was one of 6 London Boroughs who participated in the pilot of the HEYL Programme in 2017. Since then, almost half of all settings have registered on the programme, ranging from childminders caring for a small number of children in their own homes to large playgroups and nurseries.
How you can make a change
Members of the public can:
- visit the HEYL website to see if your child’s setting is participating in the Healthy Early Years London Programme. If they are not, encourage them to sign up for free by registering their setting.
- support the work of their child’s setting (if it is participating in the HEYL Programme) by engaging with health promoting guidance they have sent home to parents and carers.
- help their own child by practising routines and activities introduced at the setting when they are at home, so their learning is consistent, and they can achieve their full potential.
Professionals working in the area can:
- visit the Healthy Early Years London website to find out more about the programme and find out how your setting can register.
- contact the Havering Healthy Early Years Co-ordinator for more advice and support on how your setting can get involved and work towards gaining your HEYL Awards.