Physical Skills

There is an array of physical skills that young children need to learn and develop through free movement and instruction time.  Most skills will not be performed with control in the early years, however the more opportunity children have to try and master the skills the easier they will find more complex games and sports when they are older.
 
Every few months we will focus on a number of physical skills.  Children will develop other skills, however the focus skills will be the basis for planning and support.
 
Depending on your children’s abilities you can either focus purely on the fundamental movement skills or focus on all the skills.   The full list of skills are aimed at children in foundation stage, however you may find that some older children have not had sufficient opportunity to develop these skills when they were younger.
 
It is better to help children develop at a younger level than try to force them to keep up with their peers if they are not capable.  They will develop faster and be more likely to catch up.

Each week select:

2x Movement skill
1x Static, Descriptor or Fine Motor skill
 
Plan PE lessons and daily activities around these skills and outcomes you would like the children to achieve.
 
Allow for repetition of skills both during instruction time and child initiated play.  Perhaps place a flashcard of the skills in the outdoor area, send the skills home or incorporate them in other lessons.
 

We will be focussing on the following skills until December

Downloads

For further support to develop children’s physical skills please see the information sheets:

Skill Flashcards (click to download)
Print off the Flashcards, separate each one by cutting on the line and laminate them for use in lessons, around the class and in your outdoor area.

Skill Information (click to download)

Fundamental Movement Skills (click to download)

Physical Skills (click to download)