Big Moves

Big Moves Fundamental Movement Project

Learning South Leicestershire SSP have been funded by the Leicestershire & Rutland Primary Care Trust to develop a project tackling poor physical literacy in Key Stage 1 children.  We have worked with Elaine Cowley, physical literacy specialist, to develop a programme to support schools to implement the Big Moves project.

The initiative aims to support schools to indentify child with poor physical literacy and develop a strategy to improve their skills.  Evidence suggests that poor movement skills impact on a child’s future health, impedes their confidence, social skills, behaviour, academic success, listening skills and concentration.

Many schools in our area have undertaken Big Moves training but some have found it difficult to take the next step and develop an intervention programme with targeted children. 

The project will support schools by deploying a Movement Coach to work with schools to indentify children with movement development issues and support them to deliver an intervention programme with them over a 12 week period.

Parents will be engaged with the project and a parents’ resource has been developed to provide all families with some resource cards and basic equipment to take part in activities at home.

The impact of the activities on the children will be monitored over the 12 week period not only in performing the movement tasks but i.e. their academic performance, listening skills, concentrations, social skills, behaviour etc.   

Past evaluations have shown that children enjoy the Big Moves programme, and many reluctant learners improve attendance and punctuality to take part in it. Many show their parents the exercises at home.

Improvements noted from using BIG MOVES! include: