title: Suitability of a structured Fundamental Movement Skills program for long day care centres: a process evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early childhood presents an opportunity to encourage development of Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS). Implementation of a structured program in the Long Day Care (LDC) setting presents challenges. Implementation of a structured FMS program FunMoves was assessed in LDC in metropolitan New South Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  LDC staff attended a training session conducted by trained Health Promotion Officers (HPOs) and completed an evaluation. During implementation HPOs completed lesson observations. De-identified attendance data was collected and director and staff feedback on the program including barriers to implementation was obtained via questionnaire. Qualitative information relevant to process evaluation was obtained via open questions on questionnaires, and a de-brief diary recording feedback from directors and staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of FMS and FunMoves and staff confidence to deliver the program were high after training. On average, staff stated they ran lessons more than the suggested twice weekly and the majority of children attended 1-3 lessons per week. However, lesson delivery was not as designed, and staff found FunMoves disruptive and time consuming. Six directors and the majority of staff thought that FunMoves could be improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structured program delivery was hampered by contextual issues including significant staff turnover and program length and structure being at odds with the setting. Implementation could be enhanced by guidelines for more flexible delivery options including less structured approaches, shorter and simpler lessons, ongoing conversations with the early childhood sector, in-centre engagement of staff and post-training support.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, New South Wales, Australia. npetrunoff@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrunoff
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morrisey
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires