Physical Education in the Early Years

The early years are dynamic times for children as they pass through a mainly sensory motor stage, into a period where they will still need an action based and enjoyable curriculum in order to capture their interest.

Finally, they will move into a phase where they will develop all the motor skills and patterns which they will need in order to sustain the rigours of normal life.

This work begins with an overview of the first months of a child's life, with an indication of the major movement milestones which all children should reach before they enter the pre-school phase.

The rest of the book gives information about developing children's physical skills in dance, games and gymnastics throughout the pre-school and infant school phase.

It also addresses many of the contemporary issues surrounding the delivery of the PE curriculum in schools including the assessment of pupil's performance.

This book should help students, teachers and curriculum leaders deliver a sound PE education to children aged three-seven and will also prove useful to all those involved in early years education.