Physical development is one of the Prime Areas in the EYFS and is central to the development of all of our children. Some of our children have major difficulties in this area due to a disability and our work is around facilitating and teaching them to be as active and independent as possible. Other children at Greenhall are very physically active and our work focuses on providing them with physical challenge, safety awareness, sensory regulation and fine motor skill 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, co-ordination 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.'

EYFS Statutory Framework, 2023.