Outstanding Early Years Practice

Sponsored by Class for Kids

Awarded to a setting that has placed physical literacy at the heart of their curriculum, ensuring that learners’ physical, social and emotional health is central. 

Winner - Biscovey Nursery and Infants' Academy, Cornwall

Biscovey Nursery and Infants’ Academy places physical literacy and wellbeing at the core of its curriculum. This commitment began when the school was selected as a pilot for Youth Sport Trust’s My Personal Best initiative, which has since been fully integrated across all areas of learning. The impact has been profound, driving both school development and improved outcomes for students. 

From the outset, the school’s guiding principle has been to ensure that pupils get a strong start, both physically and cognitively. Through the Youth Sport Trust’s Healthy Movers training, all Nursery staff have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to support the physical and overall wellbeing of the youngest children, recognising that physical movement plays a critical role in the children’s health, as well as their cognitive development. 

In Early Years, fundamental movement skills are taught as part of a broader focus on promoting physical health and emotional wellbeing. To involve families in this important work, the school sends home Healthy Movers activity cards each week, encouraging parents to participate in their child's physical development. One parent shared in a survey, "my child is so excited to join in the activities for Healthy Movers. We have seen a big improvement in her movement and confidence with exercise." 

The academy’s data shows that children who attend its nursery setting consistently outperform their peers from other nurseries. This holistic approach helps equip children with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need for future success, both in school and beyond. Biscovey Nursery and Infants is dedicated to fostering an environment where physical literacy serves as the foundation for a healthy, happy, and well-rounded future for every child.  

Highly Commended - Mon Actif, Angelsey     

Kids in circle smiling down at camera below

Môn Actif, the leisure providers for the Isle of Anglesey Authority in Wales, have a long-standing track record of delivering successful programmes that aim to support and develop physical literacy in children, including the Primary Schools Dragon Sports scheme, the 5x60 secondary scheme, and the PE in School Sport Scheme. They are well-regarded for their excellence in programme delivery and their commitment to developing staff through early years training, upskilling teachers, teaching assistants, and volunteers. 

Môn Actif’s continued efforts leading the Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassadors Programme have had a far-reaching impact across schools, clubs, and community settings, fostering more active and healthier lifestyles for young children and their families. In addition to that, they have an excellent progression pathway for young ambassadors, leading them to appoint 14 new sports development coaches, all of whom have advanced through the programme—from primary and secondary school to successful employment. 

In September 2023, Môn Actif shifted their focus from secondary school provision to early years programmes. This change was driven by the urgent need to address the alarming rates of childhood obesity, as Anglesey was ranked the worst local authority in the country for obesity levels in children under 5. Over the past year, Môn Actif has made remarkable strides in tackling child inactivity and obesity, providing valuable educational support to schools, sports clubs, community groups, and parents. 

The impact of this work has been transformative. The local authority has improved significantly in national rankings, moving from the bottom position to 11th out of 22; a notable achievement given Anglesey’s decade-long position in the top 2 for childhood obesity. This shift, reflected in the improved Public Health Wales Child Measurement results, is the result of effective collaboration, comprehensive staff training and the support of teachers, school staff, sports clubs, parents, and guardians. 

Full list of shortlisted entries:

  • St John's Church of England Primary School, Weymouth  

  • Little Bears Childminding, Dorset  

  • Mon Actif, Anglesey  

  • Biscovey Nursery and Infants' Academy, Cornwall  

  • Stranton Primary School, Hartlepool  

  • St Bega's Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool

Winner 2024 - Central Bedfordshire Children’s Centres, Bedfordshire

Photo of winners at awards evening

Staff from the Children's Centre Team in Central Bedfordshire attended Healthy Movers training back in early 2020 and left the session enthused and excited to deliver these new sessions to local families. Little did they know of what was about to hit the country and the incredible journey they were about to undertake.  

Within a few weeks of attending the training, the country was in lockdown because of the pandemic, with schools and early years settings closed to all but vulnerable children and children of key workers. Children's Centres remained open, although of course, they were unable to deliver face to face group sessions because of the restrictions in place.

The team were undeterred and decided to create a new way of delivering Healthy Movers, using online platforms such as Facebook and Microsoft Teams. The team had to think creatively to engage families in this new way of delivery. Staff did live sessions online for families to engage with in real time and staff also recorded themselves leading sessions, posting the videos on Facebook for families to access at a time that suited them. These innovations paid off as throughout the various lockdowns the team continued to attract and engage with families.

Since then, the staff have continued to focus on improving physical literacy and embedding Healthy Movers in their practice. Centres are incorporating Healthy Movers in other sessions as well, for example using the 'Pick up packets' card at tidy up time and linking cards to stories. Alongside this, Flitwick Children's Centre has started delivering Healthy Mover sessions at their local leisure centre too.  

At a time when obesity levels were anticipated to rise throughout the country because of lockdown, data from April 2023 has actually shown a reduction in obesity levels in Reception aged children in the area. The council acknowledges the commitment demonstrated by colleagues in Children's Centres which has likely contributed to this reduction.