girls feet playing hopscotch

Physical Activity: External Providers


External providers, such as sports coaching companies can support with the provision of offering new and unique experiences for children in nursery settings and introduce activities not typically offered in your setting. In collaboration with physical activity and early years partners from across GM, we have put together some considerations for selecting providers below:

Qualifications 

The qualifications listed below are in addition to the minimum qualifications and expectations of those working with children and young people in education settings. Minimum expectations would include;

  • Enhanced DBS
  • First Aid
  • Safeguarding
    • Early Years 
    • Children and Young People 

The below qualifications could be expected qualifications for providers coming in, or qualifications your workforce may wish to undertake as part of continued professional development.

AFPE: Supporting Learning in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (External Website)

The programme provides those involved in supporting the delivery of PESSPA with the ability to plan, lead and review activities that contribute to PE provision, helping them to feel confident in their skills.

AFPE: Early Years Screening (External Website) 

Equips practitioners within early years and education to accurately assess children’s motor competency using an assessment tool. Learners will have developed the skills to run interventions for children to help them improve their motor competency, coordination, balance, proprioception and agility. 

First Step: Level 2 Multi-Skills (External Website)

The 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching provides learners with the skills and knowledge to be able to plan, deliver and evaluate linked and progressive coaching sessions 

 

UK Coaching: Fundamental Movement Skills Workshop (External Website) 

 

This workshop will equip learners with the confidence to incorporate key elements of Fundamental Movement into delivery. 

 

DFE Online: Child Development Training (External Website)

 

Training provides an overview of child development and offers practical advice for supporting children in your setting, including reception years.

 

DFE Online: Early Years Child Development Training (External Website)

 

This free online training provides an overview of child development and offers practical advice for supporting children in your setting, including reception years.

 

Considerations

 

Whilst the above qualifications may have developed a provider's knowledge and understanding to support their delivery, it may also be important to consider:

  • The experience of the coach of working with this age group, and how they demonstrate understanding of Physical Development outcomes across the different ages and stages, and how to observe these.
  • Physical Development should not just be the responsibility for the external provider coming in, and opportunity must go beyond the contact time that the external provider is in delivering. 
  • Practitioners in settings and external providers must ensure that the sessions link and include the opportunity for both children and the practitioners to build knowledge and understanding of physical activity, movement and development. 
  • Sessions should provide opportunities to upskill practitioners to allow them to support and provide children with similar movement opportunities away from the direct contact time.
  • Sessions should be co-produced and delivered alongside practitioners in the settings to ensure they are meeting the needs of all children in the setting. 
  • Any relevant policies and curriculums should be shared with external providers to ensure that their practice aligns appropriately, this will be help ensure the safeguarding of the children. 
  • Is the external provider(s) aware of relevant agencies, partners, current training and up to date news bulletins/newsletters linked to under 5’s in the area? It might be useful for them to be part of their local EY network.

Good Practice

Below are some best practice suggestions that may also support and quality assure the delivery of an external provider coming into your setting:

  1. Communication
  • It should be expected that the external provider can show a high level of understanding or demonstration of how to communicate appropriately with this age group. This would include the use of verbal and non-verbal communication.
  • The child's voice in Physical development, Physical Activity and Physical Literacy is just as important as all other areas of learning and good practice for this may include a deliverer being part of the coaching children’s coaching collaborative - Play Their Way - Play Their Way | A Hub for Child First Coaching in Sport (external website).
  • Other good practice may involve sessions providing space and time for children to express how they feel about activities they have taken part as well as opportunity for child led play/ design of activities. 

 

  1. Activities 
  • Types of activities being delivered and/or proposed should be carefully considered. During the early years it is key that activities are planned and delivered to encourage and support the development motor skills. Sport specific skills at this age aren't necessary and can be far too demanding, beyond a child’s understanding and ability.
  • Best practice would see a scheme of work built around fundamental movements, jumping, walking, running, balancing, hand eye, throwing, catching, dancing, rhythm, peer games, confidence, climbing etc. In addition, an element of open-ended play encourages social and emotional development. 
  • The session should provide opportunities for purposeful movement, for both practitioner and child led play. Consideration should be given to demonstrating that it’s a meaningful activity that children are benefiting from, by using a baseline assessment (start point) and ongoing assessment and observations to check engagement and outcomes of both practitioners’ children.

 

  1. Equipment 

External providers can provide opportunities for children in your settings to experience using new equipment and resources that may help them to develop physically. However, it is important to ensure that any equipment or resources used to support children is age appropriate and safe for use for this age group. Below are some suggested links to sites that provide age and stage appropriate equipment. 

Physical Development | Early Years Direct | Page 1 (external webiste)

EYFS Physical Development | TTS (external website)

Gross Motor Equipment | Early Years Resources (external website)

Fine Motor Skills Toys For Early Years | Early Years Resources (external website)

Early Years - Sports and Fitness | Sports Equipment - Sensory Wise (external website)

Play Equipment (external website)

Multiskills and Play Equipment and Resources for Schools, Colleges and Leisure Centres (external website)