Physical Activity Policy

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Introduction
Little Rockets believes that engaging in physical activities is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. All children are encouraged to take part in a range of age appropriate physical activities as part of their day. Every effort is made to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity to both children and adults.  Parents/Carers are welcome to come and participate in any of the physical activities the setting provides. 

Physical Activity Co-ordinator

This physical activity policy and the practice within the setting have been co-ordinated by the setting Manager.  Staff, parents/carers have been actively involved in the development of this policy

Physical Activity Policy Aims

The main aims of our physical activity policy are:
To increase activity levels of children and mothers, fathers and carers through the provision of a supportive environment conducive to the promotion of physical activity
To raise awareness of the need to be physically active in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Here at Little Rockets the activities provided encourage a range of basic skills and link in with local and national contexts such as Early Movers, supported by the British Heart Foundation where both indoor and outdoor physical activity is supported to ensure that children within our nursery are active.

The nursery is also aware of local and national requirements to reduce childhood obesity via key pieces of legislation and research such as the Child Health Promotion Programme and the Eat Better, Start better programme from the children’s food trust.  The Every Child Matters Framework is threaded into all aspects of the physical activity provision and at Little Rockets each child is given opportunities to reach their full potential and ability, with further provision for enhancing all round development. 

Equal Opportunities

All children at the nursery, including those with special needs are entitled to a comprehensive programme of physical activity opportunities which allows everyone to improve their skills of co-ordination, manipulation, control and movement to develop positive attitudes towards physical activities including sports.

Our nursery is also inclusive of children from different cultures and religions and staff are aware of the need to be sensitive to individuals’ beliefs about what is acceptable in relation to physical activity. Staffs are creative in their approach for inclusion of children from these backgrounds in relation to physical activity.

Physical Activity Programme

Planning for both indoor and outdoor physical activities is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage.  Physical activities undertaken within the local community include trips to the local park, walks to the beach and using Princess Park for our activities providing a larger open space with different surfaces.

 The nursery holds special events for the children, which promote physical activity such as sponsored walks, Big Toddle and Road safety week activities.

Physically active play is planned for each session.  Little Rockets ensures that children have the opportunity to participate in activities that are planned to develop the three main types of physical activity for the under 5’s: physically active play, developmental activities and everyday activities.  Little rockets use the Early Movers publications to support their planning of physical activity.  This ensures the children attending Little Rockets will make progress in their physical development to enable them to be more active, move with confidence and control and to encourage learning. 

The Supportive Environment

The nursery endeavours to produce an environment, which promotes physical activity throughout each day by providing a range of equipment and resources and staff deployed to support children within our environment. And take part in the planned activities. We also zone different areas to provide different types of play.

There is an identified member of staff trained to conduct risk assessments and establish suitable arrangements for off-site visits; parents are welcome to accompany us on off-site visits.  Although managing risk specifically refers to play provision, there are elements of risk associated with physical activity. Staffs at Little Rockets are aware that in order for children to learn about managing risks associated with physical activity, the provision aims to respond to these needs and wishes by offering stimulating, challenging environments. Through these environments children need to explore and develop their own abilities and by providing these types of situations the provision aims to manage the level of risk so that children are not exposed to unacceptable dangers.

Staffs are aware that if the physical activity provision which they have planned is not challenging enough for children it is likely that children will seek risks elsewhere in an environment that is not controlled or designed for them.  However, children need to be able to take some level of risk within a controlled environment in order to deal with problem solving skills.

Working with Families

Parental support is vital to help young children make the most of being active, all day and every day.  By working closely with parents and carers we can ensure that the families that attend our nursery are aware of the importance of physical activity for their children and themselves.
We display information about events in the local community, including places of local interest and family activities you and your child can do there.
We communicate with parents and carers about our physical activities by holding open access mornings, individual parent meetings, newsletters, notice boards and our settings website and face book page also during informal contact at drop off and pick up time.
We require parents support in getting our children ready to play outdoors by providing clothing for your child to play outside in all weathers (apart from the most extreme weather conditions).  They’ll need a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves for the winter months and if possible wellies and waterproof clothing for wet weather (we do have some all in one wet weather suits).  In the summer, sun hats, sun cream and thin long sleeved tops are essential for hot weather as we have limited shade.

Active Travel
At Little Rockets we promote active travel, active travel is valuable for keeping us all fit, especially children.  It involves using activities such as walking, pedalling a bike or trike or using a scooter to travel. A s well as offering both children and families an opportunity to build physical activity into their daily routine, it provides a great chance for young children to learn about road and pedestrian safety.
We can store, buggies, bikes, trikes and scooters at the nursery.