Stoke-on-Trent nursery receives prestigious award

A Stoke-on-Trent nursery has been recognised nationally for their provision of food education to children in their care.

The Old Rectory at Moorcroft Grange Nursery has achieved the Soil Association Food for Life Early Years award – a national award – after demonstrating they are providing tasty, nutritious meals and an environment which encourages good social skills and healthy choices. They are also supporting the development of good food habits for life through practical cooking and growing activities and food-based learning – both for children and their parents and carers.

Debbie Loton, Nursery Manager at The Old Rectory at Moorcroft Grange, said: We are proud to receive our reward in recognition of the work we do with our families to promote healthy eating. We pride ourselves on the quality of the home made vegetarian food we serve at the setting.The Food for Life Early Years award is an excellent programme which has provided us with useful resources and training. We would certainly recommend the programme to other Early Years settings.

Siân Creagh-Osborne, Food for Life Awards Programme Manager added: “I’m incredibly proud of The Old Rectory at Moorcroft Grange for their hard work in achieving a Food for Life Early Years award. By meeting all of the criteria they are demonstrating that they are not only providing the nutritious food that plays such a crucial role in a child’s development, but are enriching the curriculum through growing and cooking, giving every child in their care the best possible start in life.

“As a survey by Food for Life shows that 90% of parents say the provision of healthy food is an important choice factor when selecting an early years provider for their children, I hope the award will be a useful guide for parents and carers in the process of choosing a nursery, as it verifies The Old Rectory are meeting clearly laid out criteria.”

Councillor Ann James, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council – which commissions the Soil Association to deliver the Food for Life programme in schools and early years settings in the city – and cabinet member for health and social care, said: “Improving the health of residents is a priority for us, and we need to start at a grassroots level by educating children and young people about making healthier choices. The Food for Life programme is seeing huge successes with 36 awards achieved in schools across the city. The Old Rectory at Moorcroft Grange is the first early years award – and I’d like to say congratulations to everyone for their commitment to supporting the development of good food habits for life.”

To find out more about Food For Life click got to www.foodforlife.org.uk