It is so important that children under the age of 5 are staying active on a daily basis. The national recommendation by the Chief Medical Officer states that children aged 12 months and under should be doing a minimum of 30 minutes physical activity per day and children aged 1-5 should be doing a minimum of 180 minutes of physical activity per day. This will help with their physical, mental and social development.

Physical development is critical during the first five years of life. It is well documented that higher levels of physical activity in childhood can lead to continued participation in later life. It is important to establish high levels of physical activity as early as possible to encourage children to stay active enough to benefit their health and to support continued interest and participation throughout adult life.

Across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland we are committed to driving the Early Years Physical Activity agenda forward. We work closely with a range of partners to provide local support around this agenda.

This section provides information, support and guidance for childcare professionals with; local events/courses, the Early Years Conference, Healthy Tots accreditation, and resources on physical activity.