On your feet

Our idea for a physical development programme started back in November 2015, when we identified that physical development could be better promoted in many of our settings. To tackle this, we invited Sharon Skade, the lead trainer at GreaterSport, a Manchester-based charitable community sports partnership, to provide staff training. We soon began to see some positive results –improvements in concentration, behaviour and children’s well-being.

Practitioner interest began to grow, with settings thinking up and trying out their own ideas. We realised they had much to share, and so the idea for the Physical Development Stars Network was born. We wanted teams to work collaboratively, with a consistent approach, and decided we would need a point of contact in each setting who would champion physical development. The project launched with a logo competition that was designed by pre-school children, the idea being to get settings interested. The core aim of the project is to ensure children are moving for a minimum of three hours per day, in line with guidance from the Department of Health. We want to embed movement in everyday activities.