Why Movement Matters: Rambert’s Early Moves Programme in Greater Manchester

In this commissioned episode of Creative Health Stories, host Laura Bailey explores an innovative initiative that brings professional dance and movement training into early years education. Early Moves is a partnership programme from Rambert Dance Company, Rambert Grades, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) which trains nursery practitioners to embed creative movement into daily practice. Designed to support children from 0–5 years, this pioneering project uses dance to enhance physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, contributing to school readiness and workforce wellbeing at scale.

Early Moves has been made possible through support from Arts Council England's National Lottery funded Place Partnership Fund, with additional support from the Granada Foundation and GMCA.

Key Themes

Movement as Development: Early movement isn’t just physical play — it’s tied to brain development, communication, balance, emotional regulation, and self-expression.

Empowering Practitioners: Nursery practitioners with little or no dance experience are trained to lead creative movement sessions confidently, enhancing their professional skills, wellbeing, and job satisfaction.

Real-world Impact: Practitioners share stories about boosts in children’s confidence, listening skills, social interaction, language development, and engagement, especially for those who are shy or have additional needs.

Strategic Partnership: Greater Manchester’s early years leaders invested in the programme to tackle low school readiness rates, particularly in more deprived areas, through a creative and holistic approach.

Voices from the Episode

Daniel Fulvio, Director of Community Partnerships, Rambert

Hannah Kidd, Head of Education & Examinations, Rambert Grades

Chloe Senior, Early Years Dance Specialist

Anna Daley and Anne O’Connor, Evaluators, Primed for Life

Miriam Loxham, Senior Principal for Early Years and Faily Help, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead for Creative Health, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and NHS Greater Manchester

Early Years Practitioners: Pamela (Dream Big Little One), Sharon (St. Vincent’s), Holly (Safari Kindergarten), Tiffany (Clayton Tiddlywinks), Niamh (Buttercup Corner).

Organisation Links

Rambert Dance Company

Website https://rambert.org.uk/

Instagram: @rambertdance

Rambert Grades

Website: https://www.rambertgrades.com/

Instagram: @rambertgrades

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Website: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Instagram: @greatermcr

Arts Council England

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk

Instagram: @aceagrams

Granada Foundation

Website: https://granadafoundation.org/

Image by Jack Thomson @j_a_c_k__t_h_o_m_s_o_n

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