PHYSICAL EDUCATION

15939

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Little Pippins Montessori Nursery School, Skelton on Ure, North Yorkshire. Photograph: Stuart Boulton

Physical education is a vital part of our curriculum because it supports whole‑child development — strengthening bodies, building coordination, supporting emotional regulation, and giving children the confidence to move with purpose and joy. Daily movement helps children develop balance, core strength, spatial awareness, and resilience, all of which underpin early learning and independence. For our 3–4s especially, physical development is deeply connected to communication, curiosity, and wellbeing, making it an essential thread woven through every part of the day.

We embed physical education naturally into our routine through rich outdoor play, daily woodland school adventures, and purposeful Montessori movement activities. Children climb, run, balance, dig, carry, build, and explore — developing strength and coordination through real experiences in nature. Indoors, Montessori materials encourage controlled movement, fine‑motor precision, and independence. Outdoors, the woodland environment offers safe risk‑taking, teamwork, and whole‑body learning. Together, these experiences create a rhythm of movement that supports healthy development and helps children feel confident, capable, and connected to their environment.

Learning through the senses with Montessori

Outside children are encouraged to run around and play traditional games such as Duck, Duck Goose and What Time is it Mr Wolf?

We also have a selection of balance bikes, pedal bikes, scooters and stilts. The children are encouraged to play out all year round so they can learn about the seasons and the lovely British weather.

Our outdoor environment spans just under an acre of grassed space, giving children the freedom to run, explore, and move with confidence. They help care for our vegetable garden, learning about nature, growth, and responsibility. The bike and trike playground supports balance, coordination, and movement, while our sand and water areas offer endless sensory exploration. Beyond this, children enjoy a dedicated forest school area, complete with willow dens and a wooden throne that spark imagination and storytelling. Our play castles with slides adds adventure, challenge, and whole‑body play, creating a rich outdoor world that supports curiosity, independence, and wellbeing every day.