'Short Sparks' sessions are quick, bite-sized learnings that can be completed in under 45 minutes. Perfect for watching or listening to during your lunch break.
This 'Short Sparks' session focuses on the prime area of Physical Development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), highlighting its importance in building gross and fine motor skills for children up to five years old.
Short Sparks from the HEART: Physical Development
This 'Short Sparks' session focuses on the prime area of Physical Development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), highlighting its importance in building gross and fine motor skills for children up to five years old.
The speakers shared their journey of redesigning an outdoor play area in Alum Rock, Birmingham, using reclaimed and free resources to support children's physical development. The initiative was a response to the lack of safe green spaces for play in the community, which has high levels of income deprivation and lower-than-average physical development levels.
Evidence-informed practices for physical development are discussed, such as activities to enhance fine motor skills, active outdoor play, and integrating physical development with other early years activities.
Join our Physical Development Network: Move to Thrive!
A community of early years educators sharing best practices around movement, motor skills, and physical activity.
The network will provide:
- A platform for training, resources, and evidence-based strategies to support children’s physical development.
- A space to promote staff wellbeing through movement-based approaches that benefit both children and practitioners.
- Opportunities to collaborate across settings, share resources, and embed physical development into curriculum planning.
Why it matters
Physical development is foundational for cognitive growth, emotional regulation, and academic readiness, especially skills like handwriting, coordination, and posture.
What we are offering
A series of three network meetings facilitated by Helen Battelley, designed to build self-belief, confidence and competence.
Network sessions will support staff well-being and nurture a deeper understanding of movement practice and its theoretical underpinnings.
Each session can be accessed as a standalone session, or join all three to deepen your knowledge, understanding, and practice in this prime area of learning and development.
About the facilitator
Helen Battelley is an internationally renowned consultant, author, and trainer in Early Years Physical Development. She chairs the National Early Years Active Start Partnership (NEYASP), driving positive change in policy and practice across the UK.
Helen lectures at multiple UK universities, is an AfPE-approved provider, and delivers global training on embedding movement into early years curricula. She co-developed the Physical Activity Adventure Pack, consulted on Sky TV’s Animal Movers and Mini Me, and created Physical Phonics for the National Literacy Trust.
Helen’s work champions play and physical activity as vital foundations for every child’s development from birth.