Healthy Early Years Award

The Healthy Early Years (HEY) awards are open to settings in Medway, including:

• childminder settings
• private early years settings
• voluntary early years settings
• independent early years settings
• school based early years settings.

The HEY pathway was designed to recognise, support and reward settings that are working towards or have an approach that promotes a healthy lifestyle. It's a great way to demonstrate that your setting is committed to working with your children, families, staff and community to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The 4 award levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each award is valid for 3 years. 

Being part of the HEY awards

Being part of the HEY awards means that parents know that your setting:

• prioritises the health and wellbeing of children
• provides healthy food and drink
• receives up to date training and guidance
• helps to give their child a healthy start to life.

All practitioners from a HEY setting are given access to:

• a range of free training with a mixture of online and in person training during the daytime and evenings
• a dedicated member of the public health team and information about what else public health has to offer
• the HEY Medway closed Facebook group
• a quarterly newsletter.

The training on offer includes:

• food for the first year
• cooking with children
• growing food
• oral health
• healthy lunches
• having difficult conversation
• physical activity
• cook a story
• picky eaters
• emotional wellbeing
• sustainability.

To find out more about the HEY awards, to enrol your setting or to find out what training is on offer email heyaward@medway.gov.uk.