Healthy Movers initiative goes from strength to strength

Healthy Movers aims to equip staff from schools and other day care settings with the skills and tools to assist them in developing children’s physical development and wellbeing, and to give them the knowledge and confidence to plan and deliver high-quality children’s activities and play.

The ultimate goal is to support children’s social and emotional development, and to create healthy, active learners.

The Healthy Movers initiative which has been running successfully in other areas of the country for over five years with lots of positive outcomes, was launched in Hartlepool last year by children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council, the PFC Trust and Hartlepool Sport CIC. Nineteen early years settings are currently involved.

It began with local educators undergoing training at Hartlepool Borough Council’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in Brierton Lane.

CETL was again the venue when two further training sessions were held recently as part of a second phase of the initiative.

Participants at the recent CETL training session.

The early years’ practitioners who attended received training in how to use the Heathy Movers programme to engage families for “Stay and Play” sessions at their settings. They also each received ten Healthy Movers backpacks with the intention that these would be sent home with children to encourage physical activity within their families. The backpacks contain resources, equipment and work cards to provide families with ideas for fun and active play at home.

Ali Oliver MBE, CEO at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “I am delighted to see our Healthy Movers programme is being so well received in Hartlepool. Government advice says children under five “should spend at least 180 minutes a day doing a variety of physical activities”. Unfortunately, research shows only 19% of children are currently meeting this target. This can have consequences for the way children develop physically, socially, and cognitively and it’s why movement and play are essential ingredients of childhood. 

“Learning through play is the most natural and effective way to build confidence, resilience and connection and it’s wonderful so many families in Hartlepool will benefit from the work we are doing in early years settings. I would like to thank everyone who has prioritised this and made it happen.”

Councillor Rachel Creevy, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “We are committed to giving our children the best possible start in life, and the Healthy Movers initiative is playing a key role in that. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their excellent work.”

A further positive development will come in September with the launch of Healthy Movers Champion training, with the aim of creating a network of local ambassadors who will help to ensure the longer-term sustainability of the initiative.