At Gateway Lodge Nursery all children take part in daily supervised toothbrushing sessions, as part of the Herefordshire Council 'Time to Shine' programme. We also hold regular workshops for parents to provide information on oral and dental health.

Family Time Tips for Activities to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Breast-feeding support available in Herefordshire

Sport and Physical Activity

Walk to School Week 2025!

We will be taking part in activities to encourage everyone at Lea Primary and Gateway Lodge Nursery to get moving and be more active during Walk to School Week 2025! The 5-day challenge takes place from the 19th to the 23rd of May and is designed to help children reach their minimum 60 minutes of exercise per day. 

What are the benefits of Walk to School Week?

Being active and getting some exercise in the morning before arriving at school will help set kids up for a positive day; improving focus and concentration, and instilling a sense of physical and mental wellbeing.

Walk to School Week is also designed to extend beyond the week itself, by encouraging healthy habits for life with a focus on exercise, diet and wellbeing.

There are many health benefits to walking:

• Exercise helps develop strong bones and increase muscle strength. It also tones the whole body.
• Walking gets the heart pumping, which can help improve cognitive function for lessons throughout the school day.
• Walking helps to improve mood. Getting outdoors and making the most of natural daylight makes for a positive start to the day.
• When walking to school, children can relax and let off steam before they head into the classroom to learn.

Walking to school can help children to feel more independent, confident and in control of themselves too. They'll learn the route from home to school, which can boost their navigation skills, and they'll learn more about road safety. Once children are old enough to walk to school by themselves, they'll already have the confidence and the knowledge that they need to get there safely (and in time for their first lesson!). 

Another great benefit of Walk to School Week is that it reduces the morning traffic. Instead of driving to school in the car and contributing to congestion, carbon emissions, and pollution, you can bypass this route completely by walking. In the long run, we'll all have cleaner air if there are fewer cars on the road. You can do your part by getting involved with Walk to School Week and leaving your car at home. You'll help to reduce carbon emissions and enjoy all the benefits of walking at the same time.

Walk to School Week also provides a great opportunity to build strong bonds in the community and enjoy increased social interaction. Walk in groups with friends and take a look at your surroundings and what you can see on your route to school. Parents and teachers are encouraged to get involved too.

Sun Safety

We know children love spending time outdoors, whether in the garden, park, or beach, however, their skin is more delicate than adults and can easily be damaged by the sun, even when it doesn’t seem strong.

Skin damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer developing in later life. Therefore, it is extremely important to protect their skin properly.

At Gateway Lodge Nursery, we are committed to:

PROTECTION: providing an environment that enables children and staff to stay safe in the sun.

EDUCATION: learning about sun safety to increase knowledge and influence behaviour.

COLLABORATION: working with parents, the management structure and the wider community to reinforce awareness about sun safety.

Water Hydration

Guidance for parents on the use of dummies