Was great to welcome people from across the education and sport sector to launch this guidance document yesterday! A massive thank you to my co-authors @mariehmurphy.bsky.social @profvicsimms.bsky.social @jjw-research.bsky.social (and those not on Bluesky!) and the wonderful co-dev working group 🤗

Just over 2 weeks to go until we launch the Building Active Schools in Special Education co-developed guidance document! Looking forward to welcoming educators, community members and policymakers to discuss our work on whole school approaches to physical activity, movement and play. Come join us!

There is definitely a need to rethink how we apply the curriculum because right now we are failing to meet the movement and play needs and rights of children

There's a 'starting reception' guide being shared atm and I'm struck by the irony of this bit because I don't think the curriculum allows for 3 hours of movement a day, even though the NHS advises it.

NEW #Playgrounds research w. #PaulBrindley #YueshanMa #RuiWang & #HelenWoolley published in #LandMDPI Using #opensource data we explore 33,736 #playgrounds in #England Our study generates a new framework to help reduce #play inequalities nationally FREE TO ACCESS doi.org/10.3390/land14030477

Of course I agree that more councils should close off streets for play, but children have been actively squeezed out of public space, by councils, govt, media - there needs to be a strong political & cultural pushback to reclaim children’s right to space and to play. www.thetimes.com/article/b792...

Had SO much fun running a ‘walk and talk’ focus group with kids with additional needs and disabilities from a local school. These photos were taken by them. They took us on a tour of the school campus showing us all the places they love to play and be active. Love my job & all the cool kids I meet!

Fort building, tree climbing, and mud painting. Fantastic few hours of child led play in the woods today. Such great exploration and activity! Happy, muddy kids having the best time 😁 #littleexplorers #outdoorplay #riskyplay #naturebasedplay

Invest in green space and play space! Encouraging play benefits the planet as well as kids apparently 😆 #playmatters #outdoorplay

I'm doing a free giveaway to celebrate the publication of my latest book! Like and repost to enter (UK only). Winner announced on Sunday. See the link below to find out more about the book. #freebie #giveaway

Fab choice by the 7 year old as a gift from Santa. Beyond physical skills I see the building of many other social and cognitive skills e.g. problem-solving, concentration, communication, resilience, confidence, mastery, imagination, planning, inhibitory control and so much more! #play #playmatters

New year, new opportunity! Come join us to explore whole school approaches to physical activity in special education schools Send me a message or email to find out more information about the research programme or applying! #PhD #PhDlife #AcademicChatter www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcoll...

iPad: 0, giant Amazon box: 1 Is there a function in Amazon where we can order a super small item but ask for it to come in a giant box? 🤔 Great to see all the imaginative things she can come up with! #play #activeplay

What better day than #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities to tell you about a FUNDED PhD opportunity @ Ulster Uni! 🔍Come explore whole school approaches to physical activity in special education settings with us!🏃‍♀️ 🎓Fully funded PhD! 👏 Great team 🏫 Times HE Uni of the Year! t.co/jBfSRsY0r9

Enjoyed welcoming special education community members to Ulster Uni today to discuss how we can adapt and implement whole school approaches to #physicalactivity in #SEN settings in NI. Fantastic discussions and collaboration, and always inspiring to feel the passion this community has!