WF6 7.1 8.1

• Early years
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

WF6 7.1 8.1

7. Understand that it is important for babies and children to be physically active

 8. Understand the importance of risk versus benefit

Recap Last Lesson we .........

Using your notes - what did we cover last lesson?

6. Understand that it is important for babies and children to have a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet

Readiness to Learn

Notes to be taken

bags and coats to hang up - Health and Safety

Water only 

lanyards to be worn

Starter

1. a. 36 m b. windows & doors

2. 8 rolls

3. £28.00

4. a 82 m2 b 3.50m2

5. 7.5 m

Today we will........

7.1 Explain benefits of physical activity for babies’ and children’s holistic health and wellbeing

8.1 Explain principles of risk assessment and management, and how to balance risks and benefits of activities for children

Assignment catch up 

7.1 Explain benefits of physical activity for babies’ and children’s holistic health and wellbeing

What is Holistic Development ?

Holistic development focuses on nurturing a child's social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing through creating a comfortable and safe environment that allows a child to learn and grow. It is about developing the 'whole child' not just their academic understanding.

What are the Areas of Development?

Activity - What are the benefits of physical activity for babies?

Physical Development

Motor Skills Development:

Activities like tummy time, reaching for toys, and rolling help babies develop their gross motor skills (e.g., strengthening neck, back, and shoulder muscles) and fine motor skills (e.g., grasping and holding). Crawling improves balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

Strength and Growth: Movement builds muscle strength and supports healthy bone development, laying the foundation for sitting, crawling, and walking.

Flexibility and Posture: Physical activity promotes flexibility and good posture by engaging different muscle groups.

Lifelong Health and Habits: Physical activity during infancy lays the foundation for healthy movement patterns and motor skills as they grow.

It helps establish early habits for an active lifestyle, reducing the risk of obesity and related health issues later in life.

Physical Activities for Babies: Tummy Time: Strengthens neck, back, and shoulder muscles.

Reaching for Toys: Develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Rolling Over: Encourages body control and spatial awareness.

Kicking and Grasping: Promotes muscle strength and flexibility.

Crawling: Enhances coordination, balance, and cognitive exploration.

Sitting Up with Support: Builds core strength and improves posture. Interactive Play (e.g., clapping hands, singing): Encourages bonding, movement, and communication

Cognitive Development

Brain Development: Movement stimulates neural pathways in the brain, supporting learning and problem-solving skills.

Sensory Exploration: Activities like crawling and reaching allow babies to explore their surroundings, improving their understanding of space, texture, and distance.

Cause and Effect Awareness: Physical play (e.g., reaching for a toy or shaking a rattle) helps babies learn about actions and their consequences.

Emotional Wellbeing

Stress Relief: Physical activity helps release endorphins, reducing fussiness and promoting calmness.

Self-Soothing: Engaging in physical movements can help babies regulate their emotions and feel secure, especially when interacting with caregivers.

Confidence Building: Mastering small physical milestones (e.g., rolling over, sitting up) helps build babies’ confidence and sense of accomplishment

Social Development

Bonding with primary carer:

Activities like interactive play, peek-a-boo, and physical touch (e.g., helping a baby roll or sit) strengthen the bond between baby and primary carer.

Communication Skills:

Movement during play encourages non-verbal communication (e.g., gestures, eye contact) and babbling, which support early language development.

Observation and Interaction:

Babies learn by watching and copying others’ movements, supporting social interaction and awareness.

Activity - what are the benefits of physical activity for children (include well- being?

Emotional Wellbeing

Stress and Anxiety Reduction:

Physical activity releases endorphins (the “feel-good” hormones), helping reduce stress, anxiety, and frustration.

Improved Mood and Energy Levels:

Regular movement combats fatigue, promotes happiness, and improves overall emotional resilience.

Confidence and Self-Esteem:

Mastering physical skills and reaching milestones (e.g., riding a bike, scoring a goal) boosts confidence and self-worth.

Self-Regulation:

Active play helps children manage their emotions, channelling excess energy and improving patience and calmness.

Benefits of physical play in Children

Assignment Support

Explain - break down into clear sections, state how and why with examples - ensure you cover children and babies & holistic health and well being 

State what will happen if physical activity is limited  

8.1 Explain principles of risk assessment and management, and how to balance risks and benefits of activities for children

What is risk assessment in play activities?

Risk assessment is the process of identifying and managing potential hazards to ensure activities are safe for children while still allowing opportunities for learning and development

The key principles include: Identify Hazards

Spot potential risks or hazards in the environment (e.g., sharp objects, uneven surfaces, unsafe equipment).

Assess the Level of Risk

Evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm caused by the identified hazard. Use terms like:

Low, Medium, or High Risk.

Decide on Precautions

Implement measures to reduce or eliminate risks while ensuring safety. Examples include:

Supervising children closely.

Providing safety equipment (e.g., helmets, soft mats).

Removing or modifying hazards (e.g., securing furniture to prevent falls)

Record Findings

Document the risks, actions taken, and precautions in line with policies and procedures.

Review and Update

Regularly monitor activities and environments to identify new risks and ensure controls remain effective.

Balancing risks means allowing children to engage in activities that provide developmental benefits while minimising the chances of harm. This approach supports children's learning, independence, and confidence while maintaining their safety. 

Make a Decision: Ask, “Does the benefit of this activity outweigh the risk?” If the answer is yes, proceed with safety measures in place.

Activity - How can you balance risks to ensure children benefits from activities?

Remove or Reduce Hazards

Take steps to minimize risks rather than removing activities entirely. Examples include: Providing soft landing surfaces (e.g., mats, sand) for climbing activities.

Using age-appropriate equipment to ensure safety.

Removing sharp objects, broken toys, or unstable furniture from play areas.

Provide Appropriate Supervision

Match the level of supervision to the risk of the activity:

High-Risk Activities: Close supervision, such as assisting a child climbing high playground equipment.

Low-Risk Activities: Observational supervision, allowing children to explore independently. Supervision ensures children are supported while being given freedom to learn.

Use Safety Equipment

Provide and encourage the use of appropriate safety gear.

Examples: Helmets for cycling, knee pads for skating, and non-slip surfaces for water play.

Teach Children to Assess and Manage Risks

Empower children to make safe choices by explaining risks and how to manage them. Example: "If the ground is slippery, walk slowly so you don’t fall."

Encourage problem-solving and critical thinking:

Ask: “What might happen if you run too fast on this surface?”

Teach children to test their limits gradually and understand consequences.

Adapt Activities to Suit Children’s Age and Ability

Modify activities so they are challenging but manageable for the child’s development level: Example: For younger children, provide smaller climbing equipment. For older children, offer opportunities for more adventurous activities with added safety measures. Encourage Risk-Taking in a Safe Environment

Recognise that appropriate risk-taking is part of learning and development. Example: Allowing children to climb, balance, or explore uneven ground develops physical strength and confidence. Create a safe environment where risks are managed: Example: Set up an obstacle course with soft materials and supervise to prevent injuries

Forest School/ outdoor play

Climbing trees:

Risk: Falling.

Management: Ensure supervision, check the tree is sturdy, and provide clear boundaries (e.g., "only climb to where you feel safe").

Benefit: Builds strength, coordination, confidence, and resilience

 

Holistic Development Through Risk-Benefit Balance

Balancing risks in Forest School aligns with promoting children’s holistic development:

Physical Development:

Activities like climbing, balancing on logs, and exploring uneven terrain improve strength, coordination, and gross motor skills.

Cognitive Development:

Children learn problem-solving and critical thinking by navigating risks (e.g., "How can I cross this stream without falling?").

Emotional Wellbeing:

Overcoming challenges in a managed-risk environment builds confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.

Being outdoors reduces stress and supports mental health.

Social Development:

Working together in risky situations (e.g., building shelters or fires) fosters teamwork, communication, and cooperation.

How does this link to the EYFS?

Did we achieve.....

7.1 Explain benefits of physical activity for babies’ and children’s holistic health and wellbeing

8.1 Explain principles of risk assessment and management, and how to balance risks and benefits of activities for children

what have you learnt today?

Next session we will .......

Professional skills session - Part Timers

Apprentices - speak to your assessor 

How would you use this in the future?

Part timers - please complete and padlet and share

Apprentices - complete on the job learning

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