Course Detail

Physical Literacy in the Early Years Conference | Wednesday 11th February 2026 | 9:30am - 4:00pm

£50.00

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• SKU: Physical Literacy in the Early Years Conference | Wednesday 11th February 2026 | 9:30am - 4:00pm
• Category: courses

Attendee information

Agenda: Physical Literacy Conference 2026

What to wear: Please come in comfortable clothing and footwear, there will be movement and physical activities throughout the day.

Parking: Onsite parking is available, but please car share where you can. If the car park is full, there is local on‑street parking - we kindly ask attendees to be considerate of residents in the area.

Optional taster sessions: During the lunch period, delegates will have the opportunity to attend one of the following interactive taster sessions:

• Dance for Wellbeing (30 minutes)
• Nuffield Health Joint Pain Management Consultation (a limited number of 1:1 appointments)
• Beyond the Classroom: Outdoor Learning for Every Child (30 mins) – you will need outdoor clothing.
• Boost Physical Development in the Early Years (30 minutes)

On arrival to the conference, you will have opportunity to secure your chosen taster session. Bookings will be made on a first come, first serve basis. We strongly encourage early arrival to secure your preferred session. For more information about each taster session, please see our website: Physical Literacy in the Early Years Conference.

Conference description

This year’s conference aims to inspire early years practitioners to recognise the vital role of physical literacy in every child’s development. Physical literacy is more than movement. It’s about nurturing confidence, motivation, and competence in physical activity to support lifelong wellbeing.

Throughout the day, we will explore how high-quality physical development opportunities can positively impact children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Practitioners will be encouraged to reflect on how to create inclusive, engaging environments that promote movement, play, and exploration for all children.

Conference Aims

The 'Physical Literacy in the Early Years Conference' aims to empower early years practitioners to:

• Understand the importance of physical literacy as a foundation for learning and development.
• Reflect on how to create movement-rich environments that are inclusive, accessible, and child-led.
• Explore the links between physical activity, self-regulation, resilience, and school readiness.
• Gain practical strategies to embed physical development into everyday practice.
• Be inspired by case studies, expert input, and examples of effective early years movement practice.

Keynote speakers

1. Movement Matters in the Early Years – Unpicking Physical Literacy
by Helen Battelley, Early Years CPD Training and Consultancy - Helen Battelley MA. 

"Movement is not just play – it’s the building block for every aspect of a child’s development. This keynote takes you on a journey into the heart of early childhood physical literacy: what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes lifelong health, confidence, and learning.

Discover the essential components of physical literacy – from fundamental movement skills to motivation and enjoyment – and learn how to create environments that inspire active, happy, and capable children. Packed with evidence-based insights, practical ideas, and thought-provoking discussion, this keynote will challenge assumptions and equip you to embed movement at the core of your early years practice.

Because when movement matters, everything else follows."

2. The Neuroscience of Play - Playful Brains
by Ben Kingston-Hughes, Author and Managing Director for Inspired Children. 

This transformative keynote explores exactly what happens in children’s brains when they play and enables us to support our children to experience the most amazing play opportunities. The keynote then explores the vital role of play in developing and growing children’s brains and bodies, highlighting the profound importance of play for brain growth, physical development, emotional wellbeing and even life expectancy. Ben Kingston-Hughes makes a compelling argument that play is a fundamental building block for every aspect of well-being and development. This keynote is entertaining, thought-provoking and might just help us build the brains of the future! 

Workshops

1. Essential Physical Development and Risky Play - Playing big playing bold!
by Ben Kingston-Hughes, Author and Managing Director for Inspired Children. An active and engaging session. 

Physical movement does not just develop the physical abilities of a child but creates neural networks underpinning every other aspect of development. This unique practical workshop highlights the profound importance of physical movement as a foundation for a broad spectrum of development from communication and language to emotional well-being and healthy brain growth. The workshop explores how joyful explorations of movement unlock physical development in our children with potentially life-long benefits. The workshop then illustrates why it is vital for children’s wellbeing that they experience exhilarating play and risk and challenge in their environments. We are not looking to put children in danger but to give them a vibrant and stimulating childhood that will ultimately help them assess danger for themselves. The workshop then delves into the fascinating new neuroscience of risky play and demonstrates how catastrophic it can be to over protect our children. Finally the workshop shows what we can do to give our children back the exciting childhood they deserve and need.

Allergy warning – May contain crocodiles

2. Boosting Communication, Language and Literacy Through Movement
by Helen Battelley, Early Years CPD Training and Consultancy - Helen Battelley MA. 

This workshop explores the powerful connection between physical development and early language learning. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Communication and Language, Literacy, and Physical Development are all prime areas of learning, and movement plays a vital role in supporting children’s progress across these domains.

We’ll look at how ‘purposeful’ movement can spark vocabulary development, support listening and attention, and strengthen the foundations for speaking, mark-making, and early writing. You’ll gain practical strategies that link directly to the EYFS areas of learning, particularly:

• Communication and Language: developing listening, understanding, and expressive language through movement-rich experiences.
• Literacy: laying the groundwork for early reading and writing by strengthening motor skills and language structures.
• Physical Development: supporting fine and gross motor control essential for expressive communication and mark-making.

Conference close

An interactive presentation from Alice, researcher at the institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College and dance teacher at Pineapple Dance Studios, about how to make ‘dance for wellbeing’ accessible to all using stories from accessibility projects in North West London NHS. 

Physical Literacy Taster Sessions

Sessions will take place over the lunch period. There will be opportunity to book during sign-in on the morning of the conference. Places are limited, early booking essential. 

Taster 1: Dance for Wellbeing

Join Alice, researcher at the institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College and dance teacher at Pineapple Dance Studios as she guides us through a 30 min dance taster that illustrates how dance is good for our physical, social, and mental wellbeing. The session is suitable for all, take it at your own pace, no dance experience needed!

Taster 2: Nuffield Health Joint Pain Management Consultation

Book a slot to see a Rehabilitation Specialist to receive bespoke pain management advice and simple exercises to help relieve your injuries. 

Taster 3: Beyond the Classroom: Outdoor Learning for Every Child

Join Pamela and Debbie, Start Well Early Years Consultants from the Bolton Start Well Service.

Step into the world of The Gruffalo with us! This playful, hands-on session invites you to explore a collection of imaginative, physical‑literacy–rich activities that you can take straight back to your children.

During this 30‑minute adventure, you’ll dive into a Gruffalo‑themed physical story, complete with simple yoga movements and energetic activities designed to spark joy, build confidence, and inspire movement in young learners. Come along to enjoy the experience for yourself, and leave with fresh, practical ideas to enhance physical literacy in your early years environment.

Taster 4: Boost Physical Development in the Early Years

A fun, practical session providing ready to use ideas!

Join Nicola Branish, an Early Years Lead Officer for Wigan Council for an inspiring, hands-on session designed to spark creativity and movement in your early years setting. Packed with simple, low-cost activities, this workshop will give you fresh, practical ideas to support physical development across all areas of learning. Discover fun ways to build strength, coordination, and confidence through play, and leave with a toolkit of strategies you can implement straight away. Perfect for practitioners who want to make physical development exciting, inclusive, and achievable every day!

General information

The day will also include a variety of exhibits and opportunities to share and reflect on your practice.

Refreshments including pastries on arrival and a buffet lunch is included*.

Delegate rate (Bolton Providers):

£50 per delegate

Delegate rate (non-Bolton Providers):

 £100 per delegate

Booking Arrangements

E-mail: StartWellBookings@bolton.gov.uk if you need assistance when booking online.

Lunch and refreshments included*.

*Please let us know if you have any dietary or accessibility requirements upon booking.

Commitments and Cancellations

All requests for cancellations must be sent in writing to: StartWellBookings@bolton.gov.uk.  Charges will become effective on the date when written confirmation is received.

As low numbers can affect the viability of a course, we have to apply a charge if notice is not received in good time. The appropriate cancellation charge will apply based on the cost of your booking, as shown below:

Disclaimer

If for any reason we have to cancel or postpone training, we will notify all delegates booked onto the workshop as quickly as possible. A full refund will be given in the event of cancellation. Prices are valid until 31st August 2026.