Moving and handling prompts This is a useful prompt to ensure that moving and handling is covered and taught effectively towards the 40-60 month age band. www.earlybirdyeducation.com

Vary outdoor equipment and allow the children to explore different ways f using it e.g. beanbags- throwing onto targets, balancing and catching. Set new daily challenges for children to use the equipment to help develop control e.g. how many times ca you catch the ball in 1 minute? Enable the environment has a variety of small and large scale equipment which is accessible to all learners e.g. hole punchers, large and small pencils, scissors, wooden blocks. The children will then be provided with an environment which promotes and develops independent learners. Make use of the outdoor area and get creative e.g. different sized paint brushes and water, mud painting, different sized chalk. Set up different obstacle courses in the outside area to develop spatial awareness, skills and co-ordination. Use a variety of equipment such as tunnels, hurdles, cones, hoops and balance beams. To ensure different skills are being taught change to emphasis on the obstacle course each week e.g. balancing, travelling, jumping or landing. Moving and Handling Experiments different ways of moving Jumps off an object and lands appropriately Negotiates space successfully when playing racing and chasing games with other children, adjusting speed or changing direction to avoid obstacles. Travels with confidence and skill around, under, over and through balancing and climbing equipment. Shows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it. Uses simple tools to effect changes to materials. Handles tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control. Shows a reference for a dominant hand. Begins to use anticlockwise movement and retrace vertical lines. Begins to form recognisable letters. Uses a pencil and holds it effectively to form recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed. Allow children to explore with a range of construction materials in order to develop control, manipulation and dexterity. For example different sized blocks, wood, rubber, plastic, cogs, wheels, nails, and small tools. www.earlybirdyeducation.com