Nursery World - Physical activity can help to close the Covid gap

There is growing evidence that physical activity is fundamental to learning, and daily movement programmes can help to narrow the disadvantage gap, says Sally Goddard Blythe

Coronavirus has changed the course of childhood over the past nine months. There have been hidden benefits such as more time to spend outside in the months of spring and summer, proximity to parents and a chance to learn through engagement and interaction for some, but many families have been unable to access these and the very things that have helped some, have caused deprivation and disadvantage for others.

The recent report from Ofsted warned of pupils falling behind - of younger children losing the ability to use a knife and fork, of returning to nappies, and a group, 'who have slipped back in their learning to varying degrees since schools were closed to most and children and movement restricted'. It highlighted writing, stamina for writing at length, posture and writing style as being areas of concern. Primary leaders have identified that some of their pupils had lost some of their knowledge and skills in reading and showed regression in use of language and numeracy.

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