James Davolls on Bikes, Trikes and Scooters

James Davolls is a nursery teacher and EYFS Q-Stage 1 lead based in Bristol, currently working for the Olympus Academy Trust. He has worked in a diverse range of Early Years settings for over a decade, and has taught in nursery, reception and Year 1. James is the author of ’50 Fantastic Ideas for Bikes, Trikes and Scooters’, published by Bloomsbury, which helps practitioners rethink vehicle play.

In this episode, James shares his passion for vehicle play and how we can move beyond simply wheeling out the bikes each day to the same spot. He offers practical, cost-effective ideas that can be implemented immediately, with a focus on enhancing children’s physical development, problem-solving skills and social interactions through meaningful vehicle play experiences.

In this episode you’ll:

• Discover how to progress children’s vehicle play skills by understanding which bikes provide different physical challenges and when to introduce them
• Learn why using bikes during Ofsted visits is a great opportunity for showing high-quality interactions and conflict resolution
• Explore simple, low-cost ideas including suspending trikes to create ‘flying cars’ and creating waterfalls for children to ride through
• Understand the connection between core strength development through bike riding and later writing skills
• Pick up strategies for explaining the educational value of vehicle play to parents and senior leadership teams

Watch this episode to gather practical ideas that will help you rethink vehicle play in your setting whilst developing children’s physical skills, creativity and risk-taking abilities.

Episode Links:

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/50-fantastic-ideas-for-bikes-trikes-and-scooters-9781801994224

James showcases the learning that takes place in his setting on Instagram: @‌operation_play_charboroughroad