Tests used to assess children’s physical development have revealed that nearly a third of children were ‘of concern’ and up to 90 per cent of children had some degree of movement difficulty.
Early years specialists in the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences tested 45 Foundation Stage children at two different schools and found that a larger number than previously estimated were experiencing problems with balance and co-ordination.
The research suggests that up to 30 per cent of children in Reception are starting school with symptoms typically associated with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.
A supplementary study that questioned 25 primary school Foundation Stage teachers also revealed teachers believe children are starting school less physically ready than ever before, with 80 per cent of teachers identifying the decline having happened in the last three to six years.
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