BIG MOVES - A one day workshop
Movement and physical play in early childhood are essential for the healthy growth and
development of the brain and nervous system – and yet many children are experiencing
‘sedentary screen-based childhoods’, with 90% of girls and 91% of boys aged 2-4 years
not having enough physical activity for their health & wellbeing. (British Heart Foundation
2014)
The BIG MOVES Developmental Movement Intervention Programme has been created to help the growing
numbers of children in mainstream school, whose delayed physical development is a very real barrier to
listening and concentration, learning success and appropriate behaviour.
Developed over a six year period in a Leicestershire school, this course explains to educators how the brain
develops in early childhood and the foundation sensory and motor skills that every child needs to succeed
in school and life. It explains the BIG MOVES every child has to experience in childhood before they can
move on to using the small moves of the eyes and fingers for learning in the classroom.
Improvements noted from using BIG MOVES! include:















Significantly raised value added scores in KS1
Better listening and concentration
Improved ability to follow instructions.
Better posture, no longer slumping in the chair.
More imagination & creativity
Improved ability to sit still and less fidgeting
More determination and ability to persevere.
Less complaining of tiredness
Improved pencil grip
Improved handwriting
Improved tool use, including safe use of scissors.
Raised independence, including in writing
Greater confidence
Better vocabulary about their own bodies
‘Self Organising’
In South Leicestershire, Big Moves has been delivered in more than 60 schools over the past 5 years,
focusing on working with children in each school with the poorest physical literacy skills over a 12 week
period. The impact of the work has been monitored across a range of measures, and the results have
shown a significant impact:
Impact measure
% showing an
improvement
Improvement in physical movement skills
94%
Improvement in handwriting / fine motor skills
71%
Improvement in concentration & listening
75%
Improvement in ability to sit still
75%
Improvement in showing initiative
63%
Improvement in self care (i.e getting dressed)
67%
Improvement in social involvement
66%
Improvement in behaviour
62%
Improved academic progress
64%
“ Big Moves programme was very successful, results seen quickly. We will carry on the
programme next year” The Pastures Primary
“ Really works. Couldn't believe results in final movement assessment- huge improvement for
some” Market Harborough CE Primary
“Extremely useful programme. We have passed information to the pre school who have used
some of the exercises with younger children.” Croft Primary
COURSE AIMS: Practitioners are trained to deliver a daily, floor based movement intervention that takes
15 minutes a day. There are also additional BIG MOVES classroom activities as well as ideas for free play
and creating an ‘Active Education’ environment that best supports physical development and learning.
Reading materials and full resources are included in the course.
DATE: 13/03/2015
VENUE: Fleckney Sports Centre (LE8 8BG)
TIME: 9am – 3.30pm.
COST: £125 per delegate including resources
TUTOR: Elaine Cowley, a Sherborne Developmental Movement Practitioner.
OTHER INFO: The training is very practical and experiential and practitioners should come suitably dressed.
TO BOOK A PLACE ON THE COURSE PLEASE GO TO THE LEARNING SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE SCHOOL
SPORTS PARTNERSHIP WEBSITE www.learningsouthleicestershiressp.org.uk and click book courses (Big
Moves Training).
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CONTACT KATE CLARKE ON 0116 277 4575 (OPTION 1) OR
[email protected]