Healthy movers
ISSUE 09 - Sport 4 All
Children's charity, the Youth Sport Trust, explains how using physical activity can help early years children to be ready and raring to go to school.
T
he statistics are shocking – study after study shows children around the UK are less active, have declining mental health and rank poorly for early years development. It is something national children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust is trying to tackle through its Healthy Movers programme, currently being used by families and early years settings across the country to develop physical literacy and school readiness, and boost speech and language. Through a series of mentoring visits to early years settings, using resources and stay and play sessions for parents, the Youth Sport Trust hopes to support children in areas with high levels of deprivation to develop physical literacy. Physical literacy gives children the foundations and confidence they need for lifelong participation in physical activity and gives them the
CASE STUDY: HOW HEALTHY MOVERS HAS SUPPORTED CHILDREN IN WEST SOMERSET
In 2016, West Somerset ranked bottom in the government’s Social Mobility Index. The Index measures the chances that a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and get a good job. Lack of exercise is a huge factor in poor physical health and obesity.
social and emotional foundations they need for life. Space hopping, crawling like a crab and pretending to be a crane are some of the ways the Youth Sport Trust is using physical activity to support children aged two to five to have fun and a better start in life.
Physical literacy gives children the social and emotional foundations they need for life
It is also linked with poor emotional wellbeing, and if children reach reception age without the social skills or core physical strength to sit straight in a chair or to grip a pencil, they start school at a massive disadvantage. As a result, Healthy Movers was chosen by the West Somerset Opportunity Area to support 15 early years settings between 2018 and 2020. And the results have been promising: 91% of parents reported that their child liked being more active 88% of parents said their child had better movement skills 98% of children demonstrated improved stability and object control 95% of parents felt that Healthy Movers had given them ideas to help their child to be active
The programme has expanded into Cornwall and now Dorset following its success. The Youth Sport Trust hopes it can continue to reach more communities in the coming years.
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