Early Years

Our Early Years approach has been developed with Early Years practitioners to make sure The Daily Mile works for younger children and fits naturally into Early Years settings.

The Daily Mile in Early Years

Healthy habits start early.

The Daily Mile is a simple, fun movement break that helps children and practitioners run, wheel or walk together, outdoors and in their own way.

Children move at their own pace, building up to around 15 minutes, at least three times a week. It’s free, needs no equipment or special set-up, and can fit around the needs and routines of different Early Years settings.

For younger children, The Daily Mile can be more playful and child-led, reflecting the way children learn and develop in Early Years. Settings can bring movement to life in different ways, including:

  • Singing songs or rhymes while moving
  • Bringing stories and imagination into the route
  • Following a leader
  • Exploring different ways to move, such as hopping, skipping or jumping
  • Exploring nature and noticing the world around them

The focus isn’t on distance, speed or performance. It’s about helping children enjoy moving and making regular movement a positive part of their daily routine.

Why The Daily Mile is good for children

  • Encourages a love of movement and builds confidence from an early age

  • Supports physical, social and emotional development through active play
  • Develops gross motor skills, such as balance and coordination
  • Supports communication and language as children explore outdoors, chat and play together

Simple for Early Years settings

Early Years teams already have a lot to fit into the day.

The Daily Mile is designed to be simple and practical, it's: 

  • Quick: around 15 minutes, at least three times a week
  • Free: no equipment needed and simple to get started
  • Inclusive: everyone can take part, joining in a way that works for them
  • Flexible: works across different Early Years settings and routines
  • Fun: children move outdoors together, with no focus on competition or performance

How it fits with the EYFS

The Daily Mile can support different areas of Early Years learning and development, while fitting naturally into the day

  • Communication and language: Children talk, listen and explore together as they move. Top tip: walk and talk about a topic of the day.
  • Physical development: Builds coordination, strength and confidence in movement. Top tip: try different movement styles and encourage children to choose their own.
  • Personal, social and emotional development: Supports confidence and wellbeing. Top tip: use emoji check-ins before and after.
  • Literacy: Songs, rhymes, stories and imaginative play encourage children to use and develop language. Top tip: link a class book to your Daily Mile and bring its theme into the activity.
  • Mathematics: Creates opportunities to explore counting, patterns and measuring. Top tip: count your laps or steps.
  • Understanding the world: Children explore nature and their surroundings. Top tip: ask what you can see, hear, smell and feel.
  • Expressive arts and design: Encourages creative movement and expression. Top tip: add music, rhythm or storytelling.

Introducing The Daily Mile in your setting

  • Start small: begin with your pre-schoolers and expand gradually to younger age groups when ready

  • Bring your team with you: share information about The Daily Mile and leave room for questions and discussion about how it will work in practice
  • Build it into your routine: make it a regular part of your daily or weekly timetable
  • Go at the children’s pace: give them time to get used to taking part
  • Check in with the children: ask how they’re feeling
  • Reflect regularly: talk about how it’s going, what’s working and what’s a challenge
  • Make it your own: adapt it to suit your setting, for example with ribbons, themes or wider campaigns
  • Celebrate: celebrate the different ways children take part 

See The Daily Mile in action 

Want to see how other Early Years settings have made The Daily Mile part of everyday routine?

Watch Crewe Nature Kindergarten's Daily Mile journey, delivered in partnership with London Marathon Foundation:

Hearing directly from educators and seeing children take part can offer practical ideas for making The Daily Mile work in your own setting. 

Explore more:

Download our Early Years one-pager
Our two-page guide brings together everything you need to introduce The Daily Mile in your setting, including practical tips, how it links to the EYFS and simple steps to get started. It’s ideal for printing, displaying or sharing with your team. (ADD LINK TO ONE PAGER ON RESOURCE HUB)

Simple. Enjoyable. Sustainable.

By making movement a regular part of the Early Years day, we can help more children enjoy moving every day and begin building healthy habits from an early age.