Physical Development
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Physical Development is a Prime Area of Learning, based on the central importance of physical skills for all learning and development.
The statutory framework for the EYFS states that educational programmes must involve activities and experiences for children, as set out under each of the areas of learning.
‘Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, co-ordination and positional awareness through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults. By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye co-ordination, which is later linked to early literacy. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts and the practice of using small tools, with feedback and support from adults, allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.’
Supporting children’s Physical Development
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- Physical activity play is the first appearing and most frequent occurring expression of play in infants.
- Children in all cultures all over the world engage in spontaneous and rule-governed forms of physical play.
- Physical competence is a major factor influencing social acceptance in children of all ages and sexes.
- The development of movement skills influences cognitive skills, memory, attention and thinking skills.
- Physical Development brings a child into contact with new challenges that affirm or tests their self-esteem.
- Supporting young children’s physical development supports their overall achievement.
Further Support
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- There’s guidance on our website about physical development in our Universal Provision guidance and Graduated Approach documents.
- Early Movers is a collaborative project between Loughborough University, the NCSEM and Loughborough campus nursery. The website has been designed alongside early years practitioners to help you understand and feel confident in providing physical development opportunities to children in your setting or at home. NCSEM have also produced information leaflets for parents.
- Sport New Zealand have also created a number of activity guides for children in the Early Years which can be downloaded from their website.
- The MOVERS rating scale is a resource for early years practitioners who wish to evaluate and improve their Physical Development practice and provision. The scale can be used to assess the quality of the environment and practice but also to identify areas of need for professional development. More information can be found here. Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS) for 2-6 year olds provision can be purchased from book retailers.
- Consultations with an Early Years SEND Advisor regarding children experiencing differences with PD can be requested.
The following fact sheets have been developed by the Early Years Service:
Education Endowment Foundation
The EEF and Sutton Trust are the government-designated What Works Centre for Education who aim to raise the attainment of 3-18 year olds, particularly those who are disadvantaged.
Early Years Toolkit – Physical Development Approaches explains how 3 months progress can be made by promoting physical development approaches in the setting.
Projects and evaluations This section features results from testing the impact of high-potential projects to generate new evidence of ‘what works’. Select ‘Early Years’ in the search drop down menu.
Useful Websites:
The World Health Organisation have produced guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. The have produced recommendations on the amount of time in a 24-hour day that young children, under 5 years of age, should spend being physically active or sleeping for their health and wellbeing, and the maximum recommended time these children should spend on screen-based or sedentary activities.
The NHS Better Health initiative for families is now called Healthier Families (previously Change4Life) to help families eat better and move more. Action 4 Children’s Eat Better, Start Better resources are also available to support providers in ensuring children eat healthy, balanced and nutritious food and drink.
Play England have produced a guide called Managing risk in play provision to show how settings can develop an approach to risk management that takes into account the benefits to children and young people of challenging play experiences, as well as the risks. This guide is deemed useful for, ‘settings in which children play, such as school playgrounds, parks, open spaces, civic spaces, adventure playgrounds…childcare settings, natural outdoor environments’ page 9. This guidance has been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive.
Useful Resources:
The statutory framework for the EYFS (2025)
DfE’s Help for Early Years providers webpages features guidance and practical support to help providers with changes. The resources are aimed at childminders, nursery leaders and pre-school practitioners.