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Course

Early Years Education Foundations

  • Staff Development
  • Louise Mercieca
  • 1.5 Hours
Unlock course for £10 *with a valid subscription plan, courses not unlock-able on free trial accounts
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Skill Level

Trainee / Apprentice

Duration

1.5 Hours

Resources

1 Files

Streaming Content

5 Videos

Earn a professional certificate on course completion

Description

This course holds the key to understanding the profound impact that food has on young minds and bodies, and how you can play a pivotal role in shaping their future through nutrition. Nutrition impacts so many pivotal development factors and important health markers that it's importance cannot be ignored. We're currently living in a period where childhood obesity is significantly on the rise and relationships with food rapidly deteriorating, it is essential the Early Years community recognise this and act now. Through this course Louise will take you on a nutritional journey and explore the profound effect food can have on early childhood, including the development of young children's brains and skeletons, the impact of ultra processed foods and the importance of building positive relationships with food. Food is a vital component of human life and something we must get right to support health physical, emotional and cognitive development!

Skills you'll learn

Lesson Content

1. The Important Role Of Nutrition

19:26

To kick things off Louise strips nutrition down to the very basics of what it is, how it impacts our bodies and brains, the influential role it plays in every day life, and the importance of building positive relationships with food during the early years.

2. How Nutrition Fuels Biological Growth & Development

14:26

Within this lesson you'll learn about the important role nutrition plays in helping to support healthy brain development within early childhood. Food plays such an important role in developing the holistic image of a child, from emotional intelligence, physical development and neurological growth/brain development. Understanding how we can support children's development through nutrition is a vital step in providing an exceptional early years environment.

3. The Role Of The Adult

12:35

We have a huge role in establishing healthy patterns and emotional food connections within early childhood. Negative relationships with food can often stem from poor experiences in the early years, which is why it's so important to deliver positive messages around healthy food and to provide children with a strong foundation of knowledge around nutrition.

4. The Bleak Nutritional Landscape

14:11

Data and research paints a fairly depressing image of societies future health issues surrounding food and nutrition due to increasing sedentary lifestyles, growing consumption of ultra processed foods and declining health markers. In this lesson Louise explains why the facts and figures are so concerning and explores some of the ways we can start to make a positive impact.

5. Let's Take Action!

04:44

With a rapidly declining food landscape Louise provides you with a number of practical steps and ways in which you can start to implement positive change within your setting. The early years is the start of everything and plays a pivotal role in ensuring we raise a generation of healthy individuals, with a foundation of nutritional knowledge. It's the little things that can make the biggest difference!

Meet your teacher

Hi! I'm Louise Mercieca, Award-winning Nutritional Therapist, Award-winning author, podcaster and generally on a mission to educate with the right information on how food and health are linked. ​I feel the best way to help to shape the health of the next generation is via education. Education enables empowerment. Food doesn’t just fill us up it shapes our every movement, action and emotion. Understanding all of this (at a basic level) is the key to being as in control as you can be of your own health journey. To make nutrition education accessible and reflective of the real impact which food has on our physical and mental health. To make biology fun and ultimately, to help to shape the health of a generation.

'Something all childminder's should invest in...'

Working alone can sometimes mean that my motivation and inspiration can run low. But since finding The Early Years Network I no longer feel like I am developing my practice on my own. The personable and really informative videos allows me to create variety throughout the day through really detailed learning and development for myself.

Naomi Garrett

Childminder

Course FAQ'S

Are all the Network Classes included in my monthly price?

Regardless if you are a standard user or a corporate user, your membership grants you access to our entire collection of Network Classes so you can begin your educational journey with us today without any limitations.

Are there quizzes on the platform?

The Early Years Network is all about meaningful learning that will transform the way you interact with and educate young children, not attempting to fill your head with information for the sake of a quick superficial quiz.

Are videos available in different languages?

Unfortunately for the time being videos are only available in English, but maybe one day...

Can I access The Early Years Network if I don't have an early years qualification?

YES! Content on The Early Years Network has been created for people interested in early years regardless of age, experience or academic background. We have something for everyone whether you are a childminder, parent/carer or an early years professional.

Can I download the videos?

No, all videos are only accessible to stream online and require an internet connection in order to access the platform and watch the content.

Can I only access The Early Years Network on a computer?

Absolutely not, The Early Years Network has been optimised to be used on any device from your mobile phone to your tablet! Our flexible approach to learning embraces any and all types of device so you can learn anytime, anywhere!

Is The Early Network an accredited institution?

Whilst The Early Years Network is not an accredited body we do offer skill-based learning helping people transform knowledge and theory into meaningful change and improvement to their practice, environments and curriculum. Our Network Courses are created and hosted by leading experts within their academic fields, and upon completion of each course learners will be provided with a certificate to evidence their achievement.

Is there a minimum subscription time?

Of course not! You're free to cancel your membership whenever you like.

What is The Early Years Network?

We are a learning and development platform dedicated to the magical world of early years! We cover a wide range of topics, from child brain development to the importance of safeguarding and child wellbeing, through high-quality and immersive video content.

What subjects are covered on The Early Years Network?

We cover everything Early Years from ‘Cognitive Development Theories’, to the science behind play and even how to build the best rocket ship out of cardboard (you won't want to miss that video!). If you can think of a topic in early years we've probably got a video on it!

Join our network today

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