Developmental Milestones
Birth to Three Years Old - babies, toddlers and young children will be learning to:
- Lift their head while lying on their front.
- Push their chest up with straight arms.
- Roll over: from front to back, then back to front.
- Enjoy moving when outdoors and inside.
- Sit without support.
- Begin to crawl in different ways and directions.
- Pull themselves upright and bouncing in preparation for walking.
- Reach out for objects as co-ordination develops.
- Pass things from one hand to the other. Let go of things and hand them to another person, or drop them.
- Fit themselves into spaces, like tunnels, dens and large boxes, and move around in them.
- Enjoy starting to kick, throw and catch balls.
- Build independently with a range of appropriate resources.
- Begin to walk independently – choosing appropriate props to support at first.
- Walk, run, jump and climb – and start to use the stairs independently.
- Spin, roll and independently use ropes and swings (for example, tyre swings).
- Sit on a push-along wheeled toy, use a scooter or ride a tricycle.
- Use large and small motor skills to do things independently, for example manage buttons and zips, and pour drinks.
- Show an increasing desire to be independent, such as wanting to feed themselves and dress or undress.
- Start eating independently and learning how to use a knife and fork.
3 and 4-year-olds will be learning to:
- Continue to develop their movement, balancing, riding (scooters, trikes and bikes) and ball skills.
- Go up steps and stairs, or climb up apparatus, using alternate feet.
- Skip, hop, stand on one leg and hold a pose for a game like musical statues.
- Use large-muscle movements to wave flags and streamers, paint and make marks.
- Start taking part in some group activities which they make up for themselves, or in teams.
- Increasingly be able to use and remember sequences and patterns of movements which are related to music and rhythm.
- Match their developing physical skills to tasks and activities in the setting. For example, they decide whether to crawl, walk or run across a plank, depending on its length and width.
- Choose the right resources to carry out their own plan. For example, choosing a spade to enlarge a small hole they dug with a trowel.
- Collaborate with others to manage large items, such as moving a long plank safely, carrying large hollow blocks.
- Use one-handed tools and equipment, for example, making snips in paper with scissors.
- Use a comfortable grip with good control when holding pens and pencils.
- Show a preference for a dominant hand.
- Be increasingly independent as they get dressed and undressed, for example, putting coats on and doing up zips.
Children in reception will be learning to:
- Revise and refine the fundamental movement skills they have already acquired:
- rolling
- crawling
- walking
- jumping
- running
- hopping
- skipping
- climbing
- Progress towards a more fluent style of moving, with developing control and grace.
- Develop the overall body strength, co-ordination, balance and agility needed to engage successfully with future physical education sessions and other physical disciplines including dance, gymnastics, sport and swimming.
- Develop their small motor skills so that they can use a range of tools competently, safely and confidently. Suggested tools: pencils for drawing and writing, paintbrushes, scissors, knives, forks and spoons.
- Use their core muscle strength to achieve a good posture when sitting at a table or sitting on the floor.
- Combine different movements with ease and fluency.
- Confidently and safely use a range of large and small apparatus indoors and outside, alone and in a group.
- Develop overall body-strength, balance, co-ordination and agility.
- Further develop and refine a range of ball skills including: throwing, catching, kicking, passing, batting, and aiming.
- Develop confidence, competence, precision and accuracy when engaging in activities that involve a ball.
- Develop the foundations of a handwriting style which is fast, accurate and efficient.
- Further develop the skills they need to manage the school day successfully:
- lining up and queuing
- mealtimes