Movement, Passion, and Global Impact: Reflections from the World Teacher Games 2025

Toulon, France – May 2025

The inaugural World Teacher Games (WTG) concluded two weeks ago in the sunlit coastal city of Toulon, France, bringing together over 400 Physical Education (PE) teachers from 25 countries in a powerful celebration of global connection, professional learning, and the transformative role of PE in education.

Organised under the umbrella of the International School Sport Federation (ISF) and supported on-site by a dedicated ISF team led by Executive Director Hasnae El Ayoubi, this pioneering event blended the energy of sport with the depth of educational exchange. The result? A week-long programme that was as enriching as it was energising—featuring competitive events like Beach Rugby and Open Water Relay Swimming, as well as hands-on workshops, intercultural activities, and a major education conference.

Spotlight on Early Years Physical Education

Among the many sessions offered, the Early Years Physical Education workshop series, moderated by myself, Helen Battelley, was a standout strand that captured the attention of over 100 educators across five sessions. These workshops explored the unique principles and practices of PE for children aged 3–6 years, an area too often overlooked but critically important for lifelong health and development.

What Makes Early Years PE Different?

We began each session by actively moving—engaging in simple social/connection activities that reminded us of the joy and purpose of movement. Educators then reflected on the specific needs and characteristics of young children, including how their learning is deeply sensory, imaginative, and rooted in play.

One creative highlight was the “The Hula Hoop Challenge,” where small groups explored just how many movement-based activities they could design using only a single hoop. This opened lively conversations around resourcefulness, imagination, and child-led exploration.

We also explored active storytelling, where teachers embodied narratives through movement, building confidence in using play and language as vehicles for physical development and PE. Together, we tackled real-world barriers to practice—from limited space and time to a lack of staff training—and generated actionable solutions grounded in research and real classroom experience.

Lightbulb Moments from the Workshops

The sessions surfaced several recurring themes—and inspiring solutions:

• Barrier: Lack of confidence and training in EY PE.
  Solution: Modelled, practical CPD that builds confidence and clarity in delivering stage-appropriate movement activities.
• Barrier: PE deprioritised due to curriculum pressures.
  Solution: Embed movement across all areas of learning and advocate for PE as foundational to cognitive and emotional development.
• Barrier: Limited equipment or poor weather conditions.
  Solution: Promote low-resource activities adaptable to any environment.
• Barrier: Confusion between EY PE and formal sport.
  Solution: Reinforce the idea that EY PE is about physical literacy, not performance—focusing on movement, play, and confidence.
• Barrier: Adults struggling to access playfulness.
  Solution: Provide strategies to reconnect with the child’s world through themes, music, storytelling, and imagination.

As one participant powerfully noted:

“We lose our imaginations when we get older… I need to remember the joy of movement.”

From One Hour to Two Days: The Next Steps

The level of enthusiasm and engagement made one thing clear—one hour wasn’t enough.

Final Reflections

The World Teacher Games offered more than sport and spectacle—it reminded us that PE teachers are global changemakers, often the first to ignite a child’s love for movement, teamwork, and self-belief.

Delivering Early Years PE is not just about building physical skills; it’s about nurturing curiosity, creativity, and connection. It’s about remembering what it feels like to move freely, play imaginatively, and learn through joy.

I’m deeply grateful to have contributed to this inaugural event, to have shared space with passionate educators from around the world, and to continue advocating for physical education that begins not in competition, but in connection—with our bodies, each other, and the world around us.

Helen Battelley
Early Years Movement Specialist | Speaker | CO-Creator of the Physical Activity Adventure Pack (PAAP)

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