Active Learning in Early Years

Helen is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in Physical activity/movement playin Early Education with an MA in Early Childhood Studies (Physical Activity and Movement). Her training style is energetic, passionate and highly motivational. Helen is respected globally for her valued contribution to raising the profile of early years physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours. Helen is chair of the National Early Years Active Start Partnership (NEYASP) comprising a wide range of stakeholders in the sector who have extensive experience and expertise in the field of EY PD, sport and movement play. NEYASP are taking positive action to inform and support policy makers and inspection bodies to ensure the sector is taking an evidence-informed approach and valuing the place of physical development in a child’s life, right from the moment they enter the world! In 2024 Helen was the movement consultant for ‘Animal Movers and Mini Me’ a series for young children on SKY TV. The series will be released on Sky later in 2024. This year also saw the release of the Physical Activity Adventure Pack (PAAP), a scheme of work developed specifically for early years children, drawing on developmentally appropriate practice, movement play and aligned with the DfE’s Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. The scheme was co-created by Helen and Brianne Pearson. Helen works as a lecturer and trainer, for 4 universities delivering Initial Teacher Training (ITT) modules in Primary PE and Early Childhood PE Pedagogy as well as Early Childhood Physical Development. She is also an approved provider for the UK’s Association for Physical Education (AfPE) and a member of the Chartered Association of Teachers. Helen’s consultancy takes her all over the world, from Malaysia to Dubai, from China to Romania. The movement philosophy Helen promotes is to embed movement within the curriculum and framework to enable a movement philosophy. The embodiment of her training is to raise confidence in the areas of movement play and physical activity. The training Helen delivers ranges from supporting educators in developing activities to support the Early Years Physical Development, to working with coaches and PE leads to create PE schemes of work and methodology suited to young children.