Understand your practice. Recognise your strengths. Know what to do next.
The Physical Development Audit Tool (PDAT) gives early years settings a practical, evidence-informed way to see where physical development stands across the whole setting, and what to do next.
For early years settings, nursery groups and local authorities.
- Relationships13/16
- Development9/16Developing
- Environments14/16
- Participation10/16Developing
- Culture & Leadership6/16Emerging
How it works
From reflection to action in three steps
PDAT is a reflective self-evaluation tool, so there are no right or wrong answers.
-
1
Answer 40 statements
Rate eight statements in each of five sections for what usually happens in your setting. It takes around 30 to 60 minutes, and works well as a whole team.
-
2
See where you stand
Each section shows as Emerging, Developing or Embedded, with a summary that picks up your strengths and the areas worth a closer look.
EmergingDeveloping -
3
Get a tailored action plan
Choose your priorities and get practical recommendations for each one, ready to download and share with colleagues.
Who’s behind PDAT
Developed by Dr Natalie Weir and Helen Battelley MA
PDAT brings Natalie’s research and evaluation background together with Helen’s practical expertise in early years physical development.
-
Dr Natalie Weir
Founder, Inspector Play
- PhD in early childhood physical activity and physical literacy
- University of Derby Game Changer Awards 2026: Global Impact Idea winner
- Inaugural Derby Impact Awards 2025: Social Entrepreneur of the Year finalist
A researcher with nearly 20 years’ experience across community sport development, programme and product development, senior leadership, and research and insight. Natalie founded Inspector Play to help others in their mission to reduce childhood inactivity.
-
Helen Battelley MA
Early years physical development consultant, trainer and author
- Nursery World Early Years Trainer of the Year 2026
An internationally renowned physical development expert, Helen chairs the National Early Years Active Start Partnership (NEYASP) and is the author of Music and Movement: The Early Years. She lectures and trains for four universities, including on Early Childhood Physical Development, and her consultancy takes her all over the world, from Malaysia to Dubai and from China to Romania.
As featured in Nursery World “Moving matters”: Natalie on what University of Derby research into young children’s physical activity means for practice (opens in a new tab)
What PDAT looks at
Five sections, one whole-setting picture
Physical development is an EYFS Prime Area. PDAT looks at what it actually looks like in everyday practice, indoors and out.
- Section 1
Relationships
Physical Interactions & Building Relationships
Physical interactions, co-play, attunement, relational safety, confidence and co-regulation
- Section 2
Development
Physical Milestones & Learning & Development
Physical milestones, motor competence, early learning links
- Section 3
Environments
Space to Move & Play & Outdoor Play
Space to move, outdoor play, enabling environments
- Section 4
Participation
Daily Life & Autonomy & Choice
Independence, motivation, child-led play
- Section 5
Culture & Leadership
Whole-Setting Culture
Shared vision, leadership, staff confidence, inclusion and whole-setting integration
Why movement matters
The challenges that drive our work
Dr Natalie Weir founded Inspector Play to help others in their mission to reduce childhood inactivity.
-
Rising obesity levels
-
Fewer young people enjoying physical activity
-
Increased use of technology over outdoor play
-
Existing inequalities have widened
What you get
More than a score
PDAT does not simply tell settings where they are. It helps them think about where they could go next.
-
Results dashboard
Scores for every section, an Emerging, Developing or Embedded result and a written summary drawn from your own answers and notes.
-
Results and action plan PDFs
Download a clear results report and your action plan to share with colleagues and leaders.
-
Practical recommendations
Ideas for each of your priorities, drawn from Building Blocks for an Active Start, at three levels.
Quick winDevelop practiceBuild it in -
Progress over time
Repeat the audit and see what has changed since your last one. Every previous audit and action plan stays available.
-
Organisation reporting
For nursery groups and local authorities: every setting’s progress and results across your organisation in one place.
-
Help as you go
A glossary of terms and examples of what practice might look like, so every statement is clear.
What pilot settings said
Initial pilot feedback suggests PDAT can support professional reflection and help settings identify practical next steps.
5/5agreed that PDAT helped them identify and prioritise realistic next steps
5/5agreed that completing the audit prompted useful reflection or discussion among staff
“It was lovely to complete as a whole staff audit and made us all think about different elements that we could improve upon and also what we did well.”
Charlotte, Repton Manor Nursery “We would not have thought about considering some of the statements without the Audit Tool to prompt us.”
Lorraine, Rainbow Pre-School “The Cultural question really made me think about how I share ideas with parents and them with us about movement.”
Marion, Soar Childcare & Education
Source: Physical Development Audit Tool Pilot User Evaluation, first five completed responses (September 2026). Pilot settings used the paper version of PDAT. This is early formative feedback from a small sample.
Pricing
A 12-month licence for childminders, settings and groups
Every licence gives you the full Physical Development Audit Tool (PDAT): the audit, your results and tailored recommendations.
-
Childminders
For registered childminders only.
£59a year
Works out at £4.92 a month.
Get in touch about a Childminder licenceOne-off payment for 12 months.
You’ll need your Ofsted URN or childminder agency registration number.
What’s included
- The full PDAT audit: 40 statements across the five sections
- Instant scores and a visual results profile
- Your setting’s strengths and development priorities
- Tailored Quick Win, Develop Practice and Build It In recommendations
- Practical resources and guidance linked to your priorities
- A downloadable report and action plan
- Repeat the audit during your licence and compare progress over time
- Updates to PDAT guidance and resources while your licence runs
-
Single Setting
For one early years setting: a nursery, pre-school or school early years unit.
£149a year
Works out at £12.42 a month.
Get in touch about a Single Setting licenceOne-off payment for 12 months.
What’s included
Everything listed for childminders: the same full audit, results and recommendations, for your whole setting.
- The full PDAT audit: 40 statements across the five sections
- Instant scores and a visual results profile
- Your setting’s strengths and development priorities
- Tailored Quick Win, Develop Practice and Build It In recommendations
- Practical resources and guidance linked to your priorities
- A downloadable report and action plan
- Repeat the audit during your licence and compare progress over time
- Updates to PDAT guidance and resources while your licence runs
-
Organisations
For nursery groups, local authorities, Stronger Practice Hubs, academy trusts and school groups.
From£995a year
Works out at £82.92 a month for up to 10 settings. Larger groups are priced by number of settings. Invoiced.
Get in touch about an Organisation licenceTell us how many settings you have and we’ll send you a quote.
Everything for each setting, plus
- A central view of all your settings and which have completed their audit
- Combined results across PDAT sections, principles and statements
- Organisation-wide strengths, gaps and common workforce development needs
- Comparison between settings where appropriate
- Reporting on repeat audits and change over time
- A downloadable organisation report for senior leaders, boards, commissioners or funders
- Clear control over who can see each setting’s results
Charitable organisation? Contact us about a discount.
All licences are a one-off payment for 12 months. No VAT added. Non-refundable once bought, except where a childminder registration can’t be confirmed.
Licences never renew automatically. Childminder and Single Setting licences include one named sign-in. Organisation licences are invoiced.
The framework behind PDAT
Built on Building Blocks for an Active Start
Building Blocks for an Active Start sets out key principles for supporting movement and physical development in early childhood. Each is connected to the Physical, Social, Cognitive and Affective domains of physical literacy, from birth to school age.
Every PDAT statement links to a Building Blocks principle, and the recommendations bring them to life with practical examples for infants (0–1), toddlers (1–3) and pre-schoolers (3–5).
© Weir & Battelley, 2025 · Building Blocks for an Active Start
For organisations
Understand physical development practice across all your settings
Use one consistent framework across your settings to identify common strengths and gaps, target support and track improvement over time.
For local authorities, Stronger Practice Hubs, nursery groups, academy trusts and school groups.
- See which settings have completed their audit
- Average scores and the range across your settings, section by section
- Spot shared priorities to help plan training and support
- Add settings and invite their teams from one place
Work with Natalie
Alongside PDAT, Dr Natalie Weir offers consultancy, staff training, conference keynotes and workshops, and research and policy support on physical development and physical activity in early childhood.