Nursery World - Why physical activity in the early years is so vital

A free course, a finalist in the Nursery World Awards 2021, aims to train early years practitioners to boost young children's physical development. Dr Jackie Musgrave of the Open University, who helped design it, explains the thinking behind it

Jackie Musgrave, programme lead for Early Childhood at the Open University

‘The overall health and wellbeing of our young children is of increasing concern. Their level of physical activity remains stubbornly low, obesity rates in this age group are high and opportunities for children to be physically active are compromised by curricular demands, enticing technology and the lack of safe and accessible outside spaces,’ warns Dr Lala Manners, director of Active Matters.

She brought the idea of specific training for early years practitioners to the Open University and was involved in developing a free course, Supporting Physical Development in Early Childhood, in collaboration with myself and Angela Baker who at the time was working with Public Health England and procured funding from Health Education England.

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