ALTHOUGH it looks like any other group of young children acting out a story and having fun, there’s far more to their routine than meets the eye.

For it is part of a pioneering exercise programme that is proving to be so effective in enhancing both their physical and academic performance, that it is set to be rolled out at schools across the country from September.

Storycises is a unique motor skills programme presented in a story format for children aged four and five developed by two local paediatric physiotherapists, Wendy Joy and Jayne Reynolds.

“We were getting an increasing number of children being referred to us for difficulties with fine and gross motor skills,” Wendy explains.

“When we looked into it further, we found that children struggling with activities at school and learn-ing often have gaps in their fundamental movement skills.

“But rather than trying to address this after it has become an issue in older children, we decided to develop a programme that would focus on prevention.”

Their findings tie in with national research, which shows that the physical profile of children in the UK is rapidly changing.

More children are struggling with poor stamina, hyper-mobility, lack of core stability as well as having difficulty with concentration, co-ordination and strength.

Wendy adds: “Children have become less active and use less imaginative play. Although lifestyle, nutrition, good sleep patterns clearly play their part, we believe these issues all have their basis in the lack of fundamental movement skills.”

“We have 15 stories so far and it can be done in the classroom, in school hall or playing field.

“All we ask is that it is carried out for a minimum of ten minutes a day.” For more information, visit storycises.com