In the busy day-to-day life of a nursery, physical play often happens without a second thought—running around outside, dancing to music, or building obstacle courses with cushions and cones. But here’s a question worth asking:
Do you know how much physical activity your children are actually getting each day?
And more importantly—could you evidence it if asked?
With physical development being a key focus in the EYFS framework, tracking activity isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. It allows you to plan more effectively, spot gaps, and demonstrate how you’re supporting every child’s growth, confidence, and school readiness.
Let’s explore why it matters, how to do it easily, and how Sprint Active can help you build an active, happy setting.
Why Physical Activity Is So Important in the Early Years
Physical activity isn’t just about keeping children busy—it’s at the heart of how they grow, explore, and learn.
According to the UK Chief Medical Officers, children under 5 who can walk unaided should be physically active for at least 180 minutes each day, spread throughout the day.
That may sound like a lot—but it includes everything from energetic outdoor play to crawling, climbing, dancing, and structured sessions.
Here’s what regular movement supports:
- Gross motor skills: Running, jumping, balancing, climbing
- Fine motor skills: Grasping, hand-eye coordination, control
- Social and emotional development: Turn-taking, confidence, risk awareness
- Communication and language: Through action songs, instructions, and movement games
- Cognitive development: Focus, memory, decision-making
In short—active children are learning in every direction.
EYFS Requirements: What the Framework Says
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) identifies physical development as one of the three prime areas of learning—meaning it forms the building blocks for everything else.
By the end of the Reception year, children are expected to achieve goals in:
- Gross Motor Skills
- Confidently negotiating space and obstacles
- Showing strength, balance, and coordination
- Developing appropriate movement patterns
- Fine Motor Skills
- Using tools such as pencils, scissors, and cutlery with accuracy and control
- Showing increasing precision in movements
As a nursery or pre-school, you’re expected to actively support these goals through daily opportunities for movement, indoors and out.
Why Track Physical Activity?
So, how does tracking come into it?
Keeping a simple, consistent record of children’s activity allows you to:
1. Plan More Effectively
See how movement is built into your day and where you can add variety or structure.
2. Support Individual Progress
Track children who are less active or unsure in physical play and give them the right encouragement at the right time.
3. Provide Evidence for Ofsted
Demonstrate how you support physical development in a meaningful, intentional way.
4. Engage Your Whole Team
Tracking activity creates shared responsibility. It also helps newer team members understand how and when movement should be part of the routine.
5. Inform Parents
Use your records to highlight the physical activities their children are doing and how it supports their overall development.
How to Track Activity (Without the Admin Overload)
You don’t need an app or complicated system.
We recommend using a simple printable tracker you can stick on the wall, clipboard or planning board to:
- Log daily activities (structured or free play, indoors or outdoors)
- Note down brief observations or highlights
- Identify patterns or gaps
- Support your planning discussions
To make life easier, we’ve created a ready-to-use EYFS Physical Activity Tracker that you can download for free.
Download Your Free EYFS Physical Activity Tracker
Would you like a simple way to keep track of children’s movement, support EYFS goals, and show evidence when needed?
Our free tracker is:
✅ Colourful and easy to use
✅ Designed for nurseries and early years settings
✅ Great for planning, reflecting, and evidencing physical development
✅ Printable and flexible enough to suit your day
Just fill in the short form below and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.
Need Help Embedding Physical Activity in Your Setting?
Sprint Active specialises in delivering fun, age-appropriate sport and movement sessions for nurseries, helping children develop essential physical skills while building confidence, routine, and a love of being active.
Our Active Stars programme is led by qualified, DBS-checked coaches who understand how to engage little learners in safe, exciting ways.
If you’re looking to:
- Add weekly physical activity sessions to your setting
- Offer more structured movement alongside your free play
- Feel confident that you’re meeting and exceeding EYFS requirements
We’d love to have a chat or arrange a free taster session.
Tick the box on the form if you’d like us to get in touch with more information, or drop us a quick email.
Let’s keep them moving, learning, and loving every step.
