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Over 30% of teenagers in the UK feel ashamed of their bodies and over 35% suffer from disordered eating as a result. These young adults lack self-confidence, avoid social situations and spiral into anxiety and depression that follows them into adulthood. These youngsters are the victims of the nation’s raging childhood obesity crisis with over 14million children in the UK are overweight.
And that’s just part of the story:
- 23% of reception aged children in England are overweight
- 23% of children in EYFS in England have one or more missing, decayed or filled teeth
- The number of 11-16 year olds with eating problems has more than doubled in the past four years.
You’re probably wondering what is causing this health emergency:
- 88% of 1-5 year olds do not get the recommended amount of daily activity
- 75% of children aged 4-18 months regularly exceed their daily calorie needs
- The baby snacking market saw 11% growth in a single year between 2017-2018
The nation’s children need help.
By adolescence, lifestyle habits have already taken root in our young people and changing them presents teachers and parents with an uphill struggle.
Research shows that developing positive eating and exercise habits in the early years of a child’s life has a lasting effect into adulthood. Over 36% of adults in the UK are overweight, and a further 28% are obese. On average, obesity decreased life expectancy by almost a decade – a reality facing many of our young people as they head towards an adult life of obesity.
With 1.7 million registered childcare places available in Early Years settings, it is clear that staff working in this area are the ones who can make the real difference to the lives of children.
What is a PANCo?
PANCo (Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator) is a new role within the Early Years setting. It places those with a passion for transforming the lives of children at the forefront of the fight against childhood obesity. The PANCo will drive change through developing strategies that encourage physical activity and positive nutrition.
But it doesn’t stop there, the PANCo will:
- Craft an ethos of healthy living
- Support families to make healthy choices
- Champion physical and mental wellbeing
- Motivate staff to become leaders of change
- Share best practice within and beyond their workplace
A PANCo will be a specialist with a CACHE Level 4 qualification and the skills and knowledge to raise standards and secure lasting change.
Why was it started?
Whilst individuals across the Early Years sector always strive to do what is best for the children in their care, the scale of the health crisis being witnessed on a daily basis has become overwhelming. There is a need for a coordinated programme that offers a holistic approach to instilling life-long healthy behaviours in children and their families.
Sustainable change relies on a clear vision and strong leadership. By establishing the role of the PANCo it is possible for Early Years providers to develop target driven initiatives that support the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.
“Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.”
With obesity comes a host of other health risks.
Obese people are:
- Three times more likely to develop colon cancer
- Two and half times more likely to have high blood pressure
- Five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
These facts paint a bleak picture of our children’s future. The need for early intervention through a coordinated and well researched approach to the development of positive nutrition and regular exercise is vital if the nation is to turn the tide on this looming catastrophe.
The UK’s children are not alone in facing rising rates of obesity, the same stories are being played out in classrooms across Europe. Countries with the highest rates of childhood obesity have realised the importance of early intervention through empowering those in Early Years settings to develop initiatives to offer sustainable reform.
Portugal, identified by WHO (World Health Organisation) as having one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in Europe, has reduced childhood obesity by almost 4% by:
- Providing free fruit and milk in educational settings
- Developing ‘positive movement’ campaigns aimed at children and their families
- Empowering families to cook healthy meals through nutrition education
Inclusive initiatives aimed at young children and their families make the difference.
The PANCo role
The PANCo role is about more than just creating initiatives to promote exercise and healthy eating. This specialist role functions at the heart of a provider’s ethos and plays a vital part in providing information to Ofsted about quality of provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The five Cs of the PANCo role:
Consider
- The unique situation of each Early Years setting against national data
- Current provision and identify existing good practice
Change
- The behaviours of staff, parents and children
- Policies and approaches within the setting
Contribute
- Specialist knowledge supported by evidence and up to date information
- To school inspection
Communicate
- With families to encourage sustainable change
- With outside agencies and health professionals
Contemplate
- Improvement through assessment and evaluation
- Ways of sharing good practice within and outside the setting
The PANCo role operates within a framework that supports a positive approach to implementing change.
The role of the PANCo
The PANCo will be a welcome anchor for practitioners in Early Years settings. Knowing that someone is working to combat a problem that has left many feeling powerless will come as a great relief across the profession.
The PANCO will be instrumental in:
- Developing schemes of learning that address the importance of physical activity and healthy choices in relation to food
- Ensuring that nutritional standards are adhered to
- Engaging the local community in efforts to harness lasting change
PANCo pioneer initiatives have included establishing on-site vegetable gardens, promoting walking meetings for staff and supporting parents to offer nutritious packed lunches.
What type of setting needs a PANCo?
All EYFS settings would benefit from having a PANCo.
Whilst rising rates of childhood obesity can be seen across the UK, there are a number of groups proven to be at most risk.
- Children growing up in deprived areas
- Black African children
- Boys
Day nurseries excel in catering for a range of ages and diverse care needs. Organising children into different areas and running different schedules takes careful planning and strong leadership. Having a specialist with responsibility for developing a long term wellbeing strategy as well as coordinating its day to day implementation can ensure that children get the early nutrition and exercise education that is vital for healthy development.
Pre-schools and playgroups play a unique role in Early Years education as they are often run by parents for parents. With a strong community focus they can have a powerful role in shaping the lives of children and their families. Having a PANCo can help preschools and playgroups to do more than just offer childcare, they can help to build sustainable behaviours and initiatives that encourage active participation.
Nursery schools originally set up to provide education to children living in some of the most deprived areas of the country, nursery schools are in direct contact with children most affected by rising obesity rates. Studies show that children living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation are not only more likely to be obese but also more likely to live near fast food outlets serving nutritionally poor food. With 64% of state funded nursery schools being located in 30% of the country’s most deprived areas, the need for someone to take responsibility for young children’s health has never been more urgent. Employing a PANCo in state nursery schools offers the opportunity to fight back against the lure of the fast food giants who are profiting from some of the nation’s most deprived families.
What are the benefits of having a PANCo?
Having a PANCo in an EYFS setting is a clear signal of a setting’s commitment to lifelong wellbeing. Being a role based on the yoking together of practical training, pedagogical theory and evidence-based innovation means that it can make a significant contribution to Ofsted’s standards.
Giving a qualified PANCo time to evaluate, plan and assess provision within a setting helps to streamline initiatives and ensures thoughtful and thorough implementation that will help to promote staff participation and the sharing of good practice.
The benefits of having a PANCo extend beyond the setting itself and into the community to foster positive relationship with stakeholders whilst also assuring parents of the high-quality provision available.
Obesity is not a health issue relevant only to young people. It is a nationwide problem that affects workplaces up and down the country. Those working in Early Years settings are amongst the 63% of the adult population who are overweight. As well as good habits, children also need good role models.
Full time jobs and busy family lives can make finding the time and energy to cook nutritionally positive meals impossible. Through the work of the setting’s PANCo it is possible to foster collaboration, share skills and educate staff both directly and indirectly about the value of healthy eating and regular exercise.
How to become a PANCo
The PANCo qualification is work based, so it is designed to be easy to study around active employment.
The well-developed course content makes it perfect for flexible online learning and can be taken at a pace to suit individual students and work patterns.
To become a PANCo you should be:
- 18+
- Working in an Early Years
- Qualified to Level 3 in Early Years/childcare
Qualification
The PANCo qualification is a mandatory unit in:
- NCFE CACHE Level 4 Award in Promoting Health and Well-being through Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordination in the Early Years
Or, it can be studied on its own as a form of CPD:
- NCFE Promoting Health and Well-Being through Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordination (PANCO) In The Early Years
Study Duration
- When taken as part of the Level 4 award the course takes a total of 37 hours, with 29 of those being guided learning hours.
- As a stand alone course it takes 29 guided learning hours.
Course aims:
- To develop understanding of the PANCo programme and the role and responsibilities of a PANCo.
- To explore and synthesise international and national research for promoting physical activity and healthy eating in early years.
- To explore pedagogical theory and practical approaches to valuing the voice of the child in implementing and sustaining change.
- To enrich understanding of current statutory framework requirements for early years settings in relation to physical development, food and nutrition.
- To develop strategies to evaluate a setting’s provision for physical activity and nutrition in relation to the requirements of statutory frameworks and national guidelines.
- To identify collaborative strategies to develop and implement change in relation to physical activities and healthy eating.
Assessment
- The stand alone course does not involve any formal assessment.
- Assessment on the Level 4 course takes the form of a portfolio of evidence showing:
- Theoretical knowledge
- Practical application
- Active reflection
- Engagement with statutory frameworks
Further Study
Learners who achieve the Level 4 qualification can go on to study:
- Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner
- Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.
