ABSTRACT
Physical development is one of three core components of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (the other two being: communication and language; and personal, social and emotional development). Health and Self-care: “Children know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. An additional indication that the physical development needs of young children are not being met in the EYFS comes from The “Big Moves” project in Leicestershire. According to the EYFS profile results in England, just over 90 per cent of children were achieving at least the expected level of development by the end of the EYFS within the Moving and Handling aspect of the framework. The EYFS and “Development Matters” start to provide us with an idea of what it means to be physically ready for school within the core area of “Moving and Handling”.
