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Source: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/system/files/resources/documents/Healthy%20Movers%20Evaluation.pdf

Healthy Movers Evaluation.pdf

HEALTHY MOVERS BACKGROUND
Nationally, statistics tell us that just 9% of boys and 10% of girls aged between 2-4 are sufficiently physically active. Sedentary behaviour has become widespread and it is slowly being accepted as the norm. This is leading to children dying five years earlier than previous generations due to inactivity. This is a trend that must be reversed.

The Youth Sport Trust Healthy Movers programme has been designed to do just that. Both families and practitioners are supported to develop the necessary skills and knowledge; enabling children to increase their self-esteem, movement and ability to learn.

During 2016/17 Active Cumbria led on a pilot roll out of Healthy Movers (formerly Smart Start) in Cumbria. The intention was to implement the programme with families of children in chosen settings, using physical literacy as a means of increasing physical activity, and improving young children's readiness to learn. The pilot was externally evaluated by the University of Northumbria and shown to increase young children's participation in daily physical activity, leading to improved concentration and engagement with learning.

AIMS OF HEALTHY MOVERS
The Healthy Movers programme formed Strand 5 of the Diminishing Disadvantage project. In order to support the overarching aims of the project, the focus of the Healthy Movers strand was to;
 Use physical literacy as a means of increasing physical activity and improving young children’s readiness to learn.
 Embed a sustainable approach to physical activity in the early years contributing towards social and emotional wellbeing.
 Improve parental engagement regarding Physical Activity.

EVALUATION METHODS
The intention of the evaluation was to monitor and evaluate the Healthy Movers strand of the project. The evaluation concentrated upon assessing the impact on practitioners and children through obtaining information directly after the training, and a subsequent activity conducted three months into the delivery phase.

The focus was upon capturing the views of participants in relation to their experiences, and subsequent impact upon their knowledge, skills and confidence. Furthermore, the evaluation has sought to evidence the impact this had upon those children participating.

KEY FINDINGS

80% of practitioners rated their training experience as very good.

The baseline survey completed by practitioners attending the Healthy Movers training highlighted that 77.5% of respondents felt that Physical Activity and play was very important in their schools.

In addition, practitioners were asked to compare the importance of Physical Activity in relation to other areas, namely speech and language development and social skills. The findings highlighted that 90% rated physical activity and play as either very or equally important

Alongside capturing views regarding attitudes towards physical activity, practitioners were asked to consider what both helped and restricted them to support children’s physical activity and play within their schools. Analysis of the responses highlighted that the most common factors were as follows;

What Helps ........
• Outdoor Space
• Positive Role Models
• Motivated and knowledgeable staff
• A range of ideas and resources

What Restricts ........
• Lack of specific resources
• Time Pressures
• Competition with other areas of the curriculum
• Lack of available space

Our findings highlighted that; 80% of practitioners felt children’s enjoyment and participation in physical activity and play had increased.

In addition to the above 73% of practitioners felt that the children’s skills and attitudes towards Physical Activity had also increased.