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Even the youngest pupils talk with confidence of the three Bible stories which exemplify the vision of achieving, believing and caring.

Siams, Jan 2020

EYFS Physical Development

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,
coordination 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.
 
 

Intent  

Our children will have a diverse range of physical experiences and challenges throughout their time in Reception, many of which they will do alongside the rest of the school. This area of learning offers opportunities for children to develop and practise the control they have over their own bodies. It allows for them to develop the confidence and skills in large gross motor movements such as running, jumping, climbing as well as developing their spatial awareness and coordination. Fine motor skills are developed so that children are able to competently, safely and confidently use a range of tools for activities including drawing, writing, painting and eating. 

Implementation  

The Physical Development curriculum is designed so that children learn how to take measured risks and enjoy being active, both inside and outside. They regularly use the school playground, trim trail, the field, the hall and forest school.  The children have one afternoon of PE a week alongside the rest of the school.  The children also attend forest school regularly. The children use a range of mark making and writing equipment and are encouraged to use cutlery properly.  Our children use their fine motor skills through many of our day to day activities and also start each day with fine motor activity.  Fine motor activities are always in our continuous provision, loose parts and construction kit for example.  

Impact  

The children are spatially aware, co-ordinated and confident in their movements.  Children demonstrate correct pencil grip for sustained periods and can work with small items.  Our children will also understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and diet.