Dec 17, 2013

This report aims to highlight some of the high quality physical education taking place at St Marys Fields School. It will focus on enhanced opportunities during curriculum time, lunchtimes and after school, keeping healthy initiatives and some of the children’s achievements in PE and sport. The Aim Strong Sport team working at St Marys consists of Harry White, CJ Selvidge (Level 3 Tennis Coach), Rebecca Faulkner and Majid Mir (Apprentices).

Curriculum Lesson Highlights

Some of the highlights so far during curriculum time PE lessons have been Y1 apparatus work taking a zoo theme where children used movements describing and demonstrating how various animals could move around apparatus. Many of the children were very creative and came up with some great animal impressions whilst showing control and co-ordination using the apparatus in a safe manner.

Y2 took part in several outdoor lessons where they used SAQ equipment to develop movement skills that help in games. SAQ is a system of functional progressive exercise aimed at developing fundamental motor abilities. They also used wobble boards, where they focused on core strength and balance. One of the challenges was to balance as many bean bags on their head whilst balancing on the wobble board. Some of the children got up to 8 beanbags and showed great core strength and posture.

Y3 have mainly focused on sending and receiving skills taking part in various games including multi ball, dodge ball and tennis related games with CJ. Children have not only shown great skill but have started to use tactics and observations to help each other, improve performance. As part of some of the lessons, children had the opportunity to lead part of the warm up for half of the class. The majority of the children are working on or above expected assessment levels at present.

Lunchtime activities

Mr White has been running football each lunchtime organised in year groups. Children have taken part in competitive games and been encouraged to use this game time to practice skills learnt in the after school football clubs. Mr White has been particularly impressed with some of the year two and three children who have helped referee, organise teams and support younger children whilst they play. On a busy day over 60 children including boys and girls take part in football games during lunchtime.

Rebecca and Majid apprenticed to Aim Strong Sport have been running activities during lunchtime that offer the children the opportunity to consolidate skills learnt in their PE lessons. During the first half of the autumn term they delivered a sending and receiving activity where the children used different balls to try and knock a target ball off a cone. They also learnt about teamwork and used the ‘ready position’ as part of the activity. Many of the children showed improved rolling and throwing skills.

During the second half of the summer term Rebecca and Majid received training in SAQ and ran an activity using the fast foot ladders. This stimulates and improves the effectiveness of the neuro-muscular system, increases frequency of movement and improves co-ordination of movement. They have also shown links to sports by incorporating sports specific equipment including tennis racquets, basketballs and footballs. What is very encouraging about Rebecca and Majids activity is that on a busy day they have up to 40 children taking part of which over 50% are girls.