THE St Helens Healthy Living Team hosted an awards evening to commend nurseries and primary schools that have taken action to improve the health of local children and their families.

The Healthy Early Years Status (HEYS) Award is accredited by the Healthy Living Team and commissioned by St Helens Council’s Public Health Team.

Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Geoff Pearl and cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, Cllr Andy Bowden were on hand to present certificates at the town hall ceremony.

There are five themes a setting must work towards in order to achieve Healthy Early Years Status including personal, social and health education, emotional health and wellbeing, healthy eating, active play and safety.

Also accredited by the Healthy Living Team, the Tasty Tuck Award is given to the primary school that best encourages the positive health of children and young people by promoting healthier snacks and drinks during the school day.

The Tasty Tuck Award is supported by the Health Living Team’s Community Food Workers, the programme’s lion mascot, Captain Tuck, and his nemesis Captain Snack-Barrel.

St Helens Council’s director of public health, Liz Gaulton, said: “There is increasing evidence that the Early Years setting can play a key role in improving children’s health, by setting strong foundations to help them and their families to make healthy choices both early in life and in the future.”

Cllr Bowden added: "I would like to congratulate each and every nursery and primary school that has been awarded Healthy Early Years Status - it is a great acknowledgement for the great work that they are doing to ensure the development of good health for the children and their families.”