Food for thought – is nutrition training for you?

15th September 2017

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By Early Years Nutrition Partnership

Do you ever feel under pressure making decisions about nutrition in your nursery? Are you not sure how to handle special dietary requirements or fussy eaters? Are you nervous when challenged by parents on your menus? Do you generally wish you had more confidence in making decisions about nutrition in your setting?

Maybe you would benefit from training on early years nutrition? It’s something we hear quite a lot at the EYN Partnership, after all, there is only so much you cover in your original training and it does not always feel like a priority day to day.

But the chances are you have an idea how important it is to get right. You may have heard that one in five children starts primary school overweight or obese. When your nursery is responsible for providing so many meals and snacks during the week it really is critical that they are of good nutritional quality.

So what to do? Well at the EYN Partnership we provide various options for training practitioners, either as part of the accreditation package, or combined with other services, or as a standalone offer.

Vocational training online

A number of EYN Partnership registered settings choose to enrol practitioners on our vocational training course. With the support of their dedicated nutrition professional, they study for the Cache Level 3 qualification unit “Promote nutrition and hydration in early years and childcare settings”. They access learning materials that have been written by the British Nutrition Foundation. Modules cover the principles of a balanced diet for young children, including information on healthy portion sizes and how a child’s dietary needs change over their first five years. On YouTube you can listen to interviews with Level 3 learners, including Sarah Florence from Tender Years Day Nursery in Solihull, have a listen here.

“It’s given me a lot of confidence, I feel I’ve got much deeper knowledge now around food groups, and the confidence to make decisions especially for children with special dietary requirements, if they have allergies or they are vegetarian. The study is really interesting and the practical side is great, I’ve enjoyed making leaflets and handouts, it’s got my creative side going!”
Donna Graham, Deputy Manager, Tender Years Day Nursery, Solihull

Face to face training sessions

We have recently also launched group training sessions which cover similar content but allow a number of members of your team to attend, perhaps in a twilight session. We offer three core training courses that are really interactive and enjoyable, ‘Nutrition Fundamentals’, ‘Building a Whole Setting Approach’, and ‘Meal Planning’. An EYN Partnership nutrition professional will run these workshops for you and help you work together to develop your knowledge.

If you want to find out more about our training options why don’t you pop along to see us at Stand D55 at Childcare Expo Midlands and ask our team which options might be right for you? Let us help you develop your nutrition credentials and confidence! If you can’t make it to Childcare Expo then give us a call on 0207 697 2565, or drop us a line at hello@eynpartnership. You can also find us on Twitter @EYNpartnership or Facebook @eynpartnership. Get in touch!

Why attend Childcare Expo?

Join over 2,500 like-minded individuals from the early years sector who are dedicated to improving both practice and their childcare settings.

Attend educational seminars to credit your CPD

Meet the experts to have your questions answered

Receive fantastic onsite offers and discounts

Experience expert-led informative hands-on workshops

Network with peers and industry players

Pick up hundreds of new product ideas and services

And most of all, enjoy a great day out with your colleagues

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