Draft Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England

Physical literacy is our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life

Why physical literacy matters

People who have a positive relationship with movement and physical activity are more likely to be physically active throughout life, which improves health, well-being, and quality of life.

Understanding our physical literacy

Some of the signs we can use to understand whether or not we have a positive personal relationship with movement and physical activity include how we value, enjoy, and engage in physical activity for life.

Everyone’s physical literacy is different

Everyone has their own individual needs and past experiences of movement and physical activity. Our physical literacy is therefore unique, and changes over our lifetime. Sometimes we feel good about movement, at other times we have a weak or complicated relationship and find it more difficult to be active.

Building physical literacy

How we think, feel, move and connect with others during movement and physical activity shapes our physical literacy. Nurturing these influences helps us to develop a positive relationship with physical activity and movement, building the foundations for an active life.

How experience affects our physical literacy

The people, culture, places, and spaces around us influence our relationship with movement and physical activity. Positive experiences of movement and physical activity that meet our needs encourage us to be – and stay – active.