Understand the PANCo programme and the role and responsibilities of a PANCo
Table of Contents
Case Study
Janice is the mum of two young children in a day nursery, and she is a little upset that the nursery policy states she cannot bring any snacks for her children or other children into the setting.
Janice takes her concerns to the setting manager who asks Stacey, the Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator, to come and attend the meeting. Janice says, “These are my children and I love them. I have always had trouble getting them to eat and they took a long time to gain an ideal weight as babies. Now I know what they will happily eat and give them that, everything is fine and I no longer have to stress about meal times. Please do not put me through all that stress again by saying they cannot have homemade cakes and crisps between meals. They will start to lose weight and I will be labelled a bad parent!”
Stacey talks to Janice about why there is a healthy snack policy which allows children to eat fruit and vegetables as snacks if they need them. She explains that a child who is fussy at home is often a ‘better’ eater when with their peer group because they like to be the same as others. They will often eat things they would not dream of at home and. if they have lower calories snacks during the day, they will be hungry enough to eat a proper dinner at mealtimes.
Janice says she can see the sense in this but how would she make the changes without getting tantrums from the children. Stacey says she will take some time to sit with Janice and plan a strategy that they will use at home and in the setting, and they can support each other to encourage the children appropriately.
- What do you think will be the basis of this strategy meeting?
- What would be in your strategy if faced with the same situation?
- Why is the mum worried about being thought of as a bad parent?
- In what ways can she be supported if she is anxious about changing their ways?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.