Kirklees Transition Project:
Early years to primary school

This is a two-year project gathering evidence about the role of movement play in supporting children to make the transition from early years settings to school.

Taking place across the Kirklees area – the towns and villages around Huddersfield – it involves practitioners from fourteen settings, across five Sure Start areas – Crosland Moor, Deighton & Birkby, Dewsbury Moor, Thornhill & Batley and Meltham & Millbridge.

Gathering evidence
In 2006, two practitioners from each setting attended the Developmental Movement Play course, then set up their own activities with children and parents – based on their new understanding about the significance of child-led movement play. Practitioners are supported by a specialist movement play practitioner from JABADAO who visits regularly to offer demonstration sessions, to give advice on setting up dedicated indoor movement areas and trouble shooting where necessary.

In 2007, a further two practitioners from each setting are attending the same course. They too will gather evidence. We are particularly interested in the value of using DMP to help children to settle into school, and any perceived value for children who have been involved in DMP prior to coming to school.

Each setting is gathering detailed evidence which will be presented to the sector as a whole in 2009.

Giving children a voice
The project is also committed to developing ways in which the youngest children can be heard – and movement is an ideal means of communication and expression when adults know how to ‘listen’. During the project children are being supported to take photos and film footage of their movement play. An exhibition and film – made by children of 2 upwards – will tour Kirklees during 2008. These will create an invaluable resource for all adults wanting to know what children have to say about the movement play opportunities they want – and need.

Every Child Matters
The project has been designed with the aims of Every Child Matters at its core and will be evaluated accordingly, particularly addressing:

Be Healthy

• Enables children to feel good, or feel better about themselves
• Develops activities which make exercise fun

Enjoy and Achieve

• Offers high quality play work with children
• Enables primary schools to make best use of non-taught time through play work

Achieve personal & social development and enjoy recreation

• Helps children to attend & enjoy school
• Helps children to be ready for school
  
  
  

Achieve Economic Wellbeing

• Encourages children’s economic aspirations and assists children to shape
  their future
• Supports sound development that will provide the foundations for future employment

Make a positive contribution

• Provides opportunities to engage in decision making
• Encourages contribution to their community
• Develops self-confidence to deal successfully with significant life changes and challenges

Parents, carers and families

• Assists parents in promoting healthy choices
• Assists parents in supporting learning
  
  
  
  

Stay Safe
Enables children to learn about physical danger.

To download the Full Interim Report February 2007 as a pdf – click on the image below (2.2MB)

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