Teach-Primary-Issue-19.4

F EATURE S P E 34 | www.teachwire.net P hysical development in early years is much more than just getting children active. It can lay the foundation for a lifetime of confident movement and joyful activity. Young children naturally love to move, and the flexibility within EYFS gives us a golden opportunity to build on this innate enthusiasm. With thought and planning, we can also use physical activity as a vehicle for developing all other prime and specific areas of learning. Research shows that developing fundamental movement skills (FMS) during these formative years plays a crucial role in children's current and future physical activity levels, directly impacting their health outcomes. By taking a proactive approach now, we're giving children the springboard they need to fully engage in both structured and spontaneous activity throughout their lives, positively impacting their physical literacy journey. 1. Inclusive movement Design your space and activities to accommodate different ability levels, ensuring every child can participate successfully. Consider using visual cues, adaptable equipment and flexible challenge levels to help all children, including those with additional needs, and take an active role in movement sessions. 2. Use storytelling Transform physical activities into adventures by incorporating storytelling elements. To make movement meaningful and memorable, rather than working on balance, children could become explorers on a pirate ship; instead of practising footwork and spatial awareness, they might pretend to go off for a ride on their bikes or scooters. This approach aligns with how young children learn and makes physical development an organic part of their day. Using a thematic approach of stories, games and songs has provided a great hook for all our pupils to develop their learning. 3. Celebrate progress Implement a celebration system that recognises each child's unique journey. Focus on personal improvement rather than comparison with peers, highlighting not just their physical achievements but also positive learning behaviours. This approach helps to build confidence and creates a supportive atmosphere where every small step forward is valued. 4. Playful skills Structure activities that develop fundamental movement skills while maintaining the joy of play. For example, you could turn jumping practice into a game of exploring the moon, or develop sending and receiving skills through imaginative scenarios like being jugglers in the circus. Moving to music and adapting well-known nursery rhymes also brings a new dimension. The key is to maintain the balance between skill development and playful engagement. 5. Partner with parents Create a movement- positive culture that extends beyond your setting by actively involving parents and carers. Share simple activity ideas they can try at home (like those at tinyurl.com/tp- EYFSrealPEactivity ), celebrate physical achievements during parent meetings, and communicate the value of movement in early development. This partnership helps reinforce positive attitudes toward physical activity. Our children have enjoyed the opportunity to continue developing their FMS in the comfort of their own home. This innovative approach has helped keep them engaged and active beyond the classroom. 6. Follow their lead While structure is often important, it's best to remain flexible enough to follow children's interests and spontaneous movement opportunities. This might mean turning an impromptu balancing game on a log into a focused skill-development activity, or using children's fascination with animals to inspire new ways to move and travel. These approaches have proven successful at Burnham-on-Sea Infant School. They have offered more structure, and have removed teacher preference when planning for PE sessions. This consistent approach for each year group has had huge benefits for both teachers and pupils, allowing them all to thrive. TP tinyurl.com/tp-realPE TimRichards is deputy headteacher at Burnham- on-Sea Infant School. John Parsons is director of innovation for real PE, supporting primary schools to deliver an outstanding PE curriculum. Encouraging our littlest learners to embrace physical activity will bear fruit far beyond the early years, say Tim Richards and John Parsons Get a MOVE ON