Get inspired about Healthy Early Years London

Getting a good start in life, building emotional resilience and getting maximum benefit from education are the most important markers for good health and wellbeing throughout life. Early Years settings and childminders can lay the foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing as they help children prepare for school.

A significant proportion of London’s children have health problems that may affect their wellbeing and future education. For example, 1 in 5 children aged 4-5 are overweight or obese, and over a quarter of 5-year-old children in London had experience of tooth decay. [source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Public health profiles.2025]

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.

Through Healthy Early Years London, children will be supported to:

• eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks
• drink plenty of water, not fizzy drinks
• wheel, walk, scoot, cycle to the setting with their parents/carers
• wheel, play, run, skip and jump outdoors and in the park
• have plenty of tummy time
• have plenty of sleep
• sing songs and read stories together
• learn how to brush their teeth and visit the dentist
• learn about their own feelings and how to express and manage them
• live in a smoke-free home