Nurseries and pre-schools that sign up to the scheme must use the Red Book, an innovation that Coventry introduced ahead of recommendations made in the EYFS. In her EYFS review, Dame Clare Tickell urged that practitioners carry out development checks to be included in the Red Book.
Ellie McCann, project manager of the Coventry Healthy Early Years Setting Award, said, 'We're asking all early years settings to routinely check children's Red Books, especially to check what immunisations children have had and help to identify any areas where there are signs of developmental delay.
'When children have developmental checks, it's important that the early years setting is aware to see how they can build on children's overall health profile.'
She added, 'It's a great place to store information and data. Why re-invent something?'
So far 19 pre-schools, nurseries and children's centres in Coventry have signed up to the scheme, which is open to all early years group settings and includes free training.
Ms McCann said that the award goes further than other schemes because it focuses on other areas of health promotion besides nutrition, particularly encouraging breastfeeding and stopping smoking among parents.
Nurseries will be able to hire refrigerators so that mothers can provide expressed breastmilk to be stored safely.
'Mothers shouldn't have to feel that they should have to wean a child before they start nursery,' said Ms McCann.
The award has been developed in response to identified needs, both nationally and locally. It is funded by the Coventry Health Improvement Programme, a partnership between NHS Coventry and the City Council to improve the health of residents and reduce the health inequalities in the city.
Settings have to go through a formal application and assessment process. Among the first nurseries to gain the award are Busy Bees, Walsgrave University Hospital nursery, Grace Day Nursery and Little People's Day Nursery.
Janet Wilson, manager of Little People's Day Nursery, said the nursery has a family forum and encourages parents, particularly fathers and grandfathers, to come along to monthly 'grow and sow' sessions on Saturdays.
The nursery has recently turned a disused outdoor area into a flourishing vegetable garden.
Ms Wilson said, 'The children grow strawberries and make smoothies from them. Parents are able to see the staff socially and it helps us all get to know each other.
'We're all for promoting healthy lifestyles and wanted to get parents involved to help better outcomes for children.'
