About the Programme:

The Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) Programme, supported by the Mayor of London and funded by Public Health in Westminster, is an award scheme that helps early years settings create a supportive environment for children’s health, development, and wellbeing right from the start.

The HEYL Programme is built on the understanding that good health is fundamental to learning, and that high-quality early education is key to long-term wellbeing. When children are physically healthy, emotionally secure, and well-nourished, they are better able to learn, communicate, and thrive. Likewise, high-quality early education supports the development of lifelong healthy habits. By bringing health and education together, HEYL empowers early years settings to support children holistically, using a whole-setting approach.

Designed to complement the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage, the HEYL Programme supports the prime areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional development, by focusing on self-regulation, emotional literacy, secure attachments, managing self and building positive relationships.
• Physical development, by focusing on gross and fine motor physical activity, healthy eating, oral health, and other health topics.
• Communication and language, by focusing on activities and interventions to support children and their families with listening, understanding, attention and speech.

Award Levels

• HEYL Bronze award – a framework to celebrate, review, and enhance existing provision on health, wellbeing and education.
• HEYL Silver award – an action plan to improve a chosen health, wellbeing and/or education priority.
• HEYL Gold award – an implementation of the HEYL Silver action plan.

FREE support
Health Education Partnership has been commissioned to provide free support to participating settings. This includes:

• Training on completing HEYL award applications.
• Training on various health topics such as healthy eating, physical activity and oral health.
• Menu reviews in line with EYFS Nutrition Guidance (supported by the Change4Life service).
• 1-2-1 support to complete applications at all levels of award.
• Linking up with local partners that can further support settings.
• Resource pack.
• Events.

How to take part

To take part, or if you have any questions, please contact:

Viktorija Zdanoviciute
Healthy Early Years Coordinator
Tel: 07889583667
viktorija.zdanoviciute@healtheducationpartnership.com