Commission expands SDO team

The Guernsey Sports Commission has appointed a new Sports Development Officer to help support the island’s youngest children.

Lottie Evans will join the Commission in September on a part-time basis to work with Early Years children focusing on developing their Fundamental Movement Skills. She will also support gymnastics in Primary Schools.

‘We are delighted to welcome Lottie to the team,’ said Graham Chester, Operations Director.

‘The Commission has really concentrated on developing a team of Development Officers who are able to support children and young people throughout their education, aiming to keep them fit and active and fostering a love of sport which we hope will contribute to their health and wellbeing in the long term.

‘Lottie is going to be an integral part of this team,’ said Graham.

‘This is an excellent appointment by the Sports Commission and will really enhance the application of fundamental movement skills in early years,’ said Alun Williams, Education and Be Active lead for the Health Improvement Commission.

‘For our youngest children, being active must be established as a core part of normal everyday life.’

Lottie will work closely with the States of Guernsey Early Years team, who are excited about her appointment.

‘Physical development is one of the prime areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This means it is one of the key areas of development in the first five years of a child’s life,’ said Ruth Sharp, Lead Education Officer for Early Years.

‘A strong foundation in physical development lays the grounding for all future learning. Without experiences of moving in different ways and a solid foundation of gross (big movements) and fine motor control (small movements), children will find other areas of learning much more challenging.

‘Being active is vital not only for children’s health and physical development, but also for their well-being, social and language development, reading and writing skills and their sense of themselves in relation to the world around them,’ said Ruth.

Lottie will also be working in partnership with Scott Little from the Guernsey Gymnastics Association, helping children access gymnastics in school and through after-school clubs. Lottie’s focus will be working with primary age children.

‘I am really excited to be working with the island’s primary school children,’ said Lottie.

‘I started gymnastics when I was first at school because a specialist coach came in looking for talent. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to try gymnastics at school.

‘Gymnastics is a sport for all sports; it improves strength, movement, coordination and flexibility and a lot of those attributes are useful for all sports.’

Lottie will be working in schools from September.