Project Springboard: Positive Starts in Early Years

Team Happy Healthy: Designing Brave Spaces

What if children designed the places we live? Trevor Smith (Sportsmith), Hayley Mills (Bedford Borough Council), and Jamie Stanley (Lands Improvement Holdings) share how listening to young voices is changing the way new communities are planned. From empathy for siblings and parents to the simple wish to feel brave, discover how physical literacy and the right to play can reshape parks, streets, and neighbourhoods for everyone.

Beyond Movement: Shifting Minds, Inspiring Action

Changing the language around movement can change mindsets and whole systems. Jessica Simons (Greater Manchester Moving) and Sheron Kantor (Bolton Council) share their Beyond Movement project, which reframes early years activity around positive experiences, child voice, and meaningful language. From practitioners helping children regulate emotions through running, to embedding new terms in Greater Manchester policy, this episode shows how changing hearts and minds can ignite long-lasting system change.

Move, Play & Creating Active Schools: Curiosity Over Judgment

Curiosity, not judgment, could be the key to getting every child active for life. Ian Holmes (education consultant) shares insights from Move, Play & Creating Active Schools, a project uncovering how children really experience physical activity. From rethinking what “counts” as movement to helping teachers build curiosity instead of judgment, this episode explores how listening to pupils can reshape PE, wellbeing, and the culture of school activity.

Let’s PLEY: Building Blocks for an Active Start

Movement isn’t just play—it’s the foundation for health, confidence, and learning. Olivia White (HENRY), Helen Battelley (author, lecturer & consultant), and Natalie Weir (sport development professional & researcher) share their Let’s PLEY project. Physical Literacy Early Years. They discuss why movement is our first language, how to embed physical literacy alongside nutrition, and the ripple effects reaching families, practitioners, and communities. From playful frameworks to unexpected learning moments, this episode explores giving children the strongest possible active start.

Project Springboard: Positive Starts in Early Years

How do we give every child the best start in life through movement and play? John Parsons (Real PE), James Mooney (Cabot Learning Federation), and Natalie Weir (University of Derby / IPLA) share insights from Project Springboard, exploring how physical literacy can reduce disadvantage gaps, build teacher confidence, and reimagine PE from the ground up. With tools like the Play Wheel and practical frameworks for schools, this episode dives into small changes that can lead to big results and why positive early experiences matter for lifelong confidence and wellbeing.