Physical development in the Nursery

By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility.

Gross motor skills, practiced during the weekly PE sessions with Mr Bailey on the astro, provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional well‑being. Walks around the grounds and exploration during Forest School all contribute towards building up muscle strength and fitness. Negotiating a safe pathway around the playground whilst on a balance bike can be a challenge but a necessary skill. Fine motor control and precision also helps with hand-eye co-ordination.

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. All activities in the Nursery involve some form of physical development as the children are encouraged to be active and to do as much as they can for themselves. This includes putting on their own shoes and coats and washing their hands independently. Feeding themselves and being aware of the need to eat healthy food as well as learning to brush their teeth after lunch all form part of the Physical Development aspect of learning in the Early Years.