Being physically active every day is important for the healthy growth and development of babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Being physically active every day is important for the healthy growth and development of babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Healthy development in early childhood lays the foundation for successful developmental outcomes in later life and consequently impacts several aspects of adult life, eg, health and wellbeing, educational attainment and economic status.
Yet reports show that only nine per cent of children aged two to four in England meet the physical activity recommendations.
“91 per cent of children aged two to four years do not meet the physical activity recommendations” – The Health Survey for England
These guidelines explain the level of physical activity children from birth to five years should achieve a day to ensure they are active, happy, healthy, school ready, and sleep well.
Physical activity for early years pdf format“Two is too late! … the building blocks for lifelong emotional and physical health are laid down in the period from conception to the age of two and we don’t give this critical period the focus it deserves” – Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP
NHS guidance (0 – 5 years): www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-guidelines/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/
DfE resources, activity ideas and advice for supporting early years children with the three areas of physical development: core strength and co-ordination, gross motor skills and fine motor skills: help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/physical-development
Active Cornwall Time 2 Move (Birth – 12 Months): www.activesussex.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TIME-2-MOVE-Physical-Play-Ideas-0-12-months-1.pdf
Education Endowment Foundation, Approaches for supporting physical development in the early years: educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/early-years-evidence-store/physical-development?approach=promoting-physical-activity-in-physical-development
Best Start in Life, From pregnancy to childcare right through to starting school, get advice and support for your child’s development: beststartinlife.gov.uk/
Starting Reception, Getting your child school ready: startingreception.co.uk/
Youth Sport Trust, Healthy Movers: youthsporttrust.org/healthymovers/families
UK Government: The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days (Conception – 2 years)
National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine: Physical Activity in the Early Years (0-5 years)
Early Years PE, Physical Activity & Physical Development
Created by Early Childhood, Physical Activity and Movement Play Specialist, Helen Battelley, this course will be instrumental for your future practice in PE and physical activity provision. Suitable for anyone working with children aged three to seven years.
When? Anytime (this is an on-demand course)
Where? Online virtual delivery
Cost: £295
East Sussex: Healthy Active Little Ones (HALO), HALO is a free programme for early years settings, including school nurseries and childminders. It helps you to reflect, identify and action further development in health and wellbeing areas: czone.eastsussex.gov.uk/teaching-and-learning/early-years/ey-resources/halo
Brighton & Hove: Physical Development in the Early Years Foundations Stage:
West Sussex: Health and Wellbeing for Early Years Practitioners:
Early Movers: www.earlymovers.org.uk
Learning through Landscapes: ltl.org.uk
Youth Sport Trust Healthy Movers: www.youthsporttrust.org/programmes/healthy-movers
Balanceability: www.balanceability.com
Hidden Talents: hiddentalentslive.co.uk
Tiny Tots Yoga: ukyoga.co.uk
BBC Tiny Happy People: www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
David works with Sussex schools to put PE, sport and physical activity at the heart of school life. He supports and promotes initiatives, programmes and local offers that develop PE, sport and physical activity provision within education. David also leads on Active Sussex's environmental sustainability work.
Email: dtaylor@activesussex.org
