Measuring as part of improving motor skills
Measurement can contribute to an integrated approach to improving motor skills. This happens in various ways:
- Appropriate after-school activities can be designed and established based on motor skills.
- The physical education specialist receives input for physical education lessons.
- Children who are good or less proficient movers can be referred to additional activities.
Support, objectives and follow-up steps are important conditions
For the measurement of motor skills to contribute to improving them, the following elements are important within an integrated approach:
- Good coordination between the municipality and schools: for example, taking schools’ preferences into account when choosing a measurement instrument and ensuring sufficient support during implementation. Both financially and in terms of staff capacity. This creates support among the parties involved.
- Clear objectives: measurement is much more useful when you know what you want to achieve with it and choose a measurement instrument that is appropriate for that purpose.
- Clear follow-up steps: when those involved know what the data will be used for, they are also more likely to see the added value of measurement. Especially when the follow-up steps also contribute to the objectives that have been set.
Case studies in nine municipalities
For this study, the Mulier Institute conducted nine case studies in municipalities. These municipalities were Almere, Arnhem, Bergen op Zoom, Brunssum, Haarlemmermeer, Nijmegen, Utrecht, Vlissingen and Zaanstad.
The researchers spoke with policy officers, employees of municipal sports organisations and physical education specialists. For each municipality, they mapped out the approach to measuring motor skills and its role within the municipal integrated approach to improving motor skills.
Read the full findings in the report ‘From measuring to moving’.