Physical Development

Physical development (gross motor) linked to PE: this area of learning links to the fundamental movements ABC (agility, balance and coordination) taught explicitly throughout key stage 1.

Children in our early year’s foundation stage have access to outdoors for at least 3 hours per day. Practitioners encourage, support, enable and challenge children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility.

Physical development (fine motor) linked to writing:

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.

Statutory framework for early years 2021

In each of our early year’s classrooms, children have access to: powder paint, playdough, the ingredients to make playdough and sensory experiences such as shaving foam, gloop and slime. Children also have access to mud, sand and water outside. Practitioners encourage, support, enable and challenge children to use their senses to explore different materials and build their muscle strength in order to write later on. Our continuous provision also includes tools and materials that encourage mark making.