17th May 2008

TOP Start, currently the second step on the Youth Sport Trust programme pathway, focuses on developing basic movement and ball skills in 3 to 5 year old children. It is also designed to encourage the full integration of young children with disabilities and special educational needs. Usually for use with groups of children in pre-school settings TOP Start uses a series of illustrated resource cards and a big bag of bright, colourful and innovative equipment to develop basic movement and ball skills.

 

From the end of March 2008, TOP Start will no longer be available. The main character Sporty is being retired to be replaced with Fizz and friends – together with our brand new Start to play programme. For the first time we are using story telling to engage children and harness physical activity in a fun and exciting way.
 

Start to play, available to order from April 2008, is for 0 to 5 year olds and is jointly aimed at early years providers (nurseries, play groups, pre-schools etc.) as well as individuals (from speech therapists and health visitors to child minders, parents and families). Start to play has even more innovative, safe, fun equipment and an all-new set of resources in the shape of story books, activity cards and a narrated CD.

 

A smaller Start to play at home package for families or people working with individual children or small groups will also be available to order from June 2008.

 

Click here for more information on Start to play.