COVID-19
Government Guidance on PE, Sport and Physical Activity in Schools
On July 2nd 2020, the Government published the 'Guidance for full opening: schools' providing guidance and recommendations for schools with regards to opening at the beginning of the autumn term (Link via the Button Below).
Within this document, the government provides clear guidance on the next steps schools should take in relation to to provision of PE, Sport and Physical activity. The sections below outline how the new guidance can help schools in moving forward with the use of Sports Coaches, extra-curricular provision, and physical activity.
SUPPLY TEACHERS AND OTHER TEMPORARY OR PERIPATETIC TEACHERS
In this section, the government has provided clear guidance stating that schools can use external sports coaches for curricular and extra-curricular activities, from the beginning of the autumn term. The following supporting statements have been taken from the 'Supply teachers and other temporary or peripatetic teachers' section of the government guidance:
"All teachers and other staff can operate across different classes and year groups in order to facilitate the delivery of the school timetable."
"Supply staff and other temporary workers can move between schools..."
"This advice for supply teachers also applies to other temporary staff working in schools such as support staff working on a supply basis, peripatetic teachers such sports coaches, and those engaged to deliver before and after school clubs."
"Supply teachers, peripatetic teachers and/or other temporary staff can move between schools."
EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROVISION
The following statements have been taken from the 'Extra-curricular provision' section. The government are actively encouraging schools to resume extra-curricular activities such as out of school clubs including before and after school provision:
"Schools should consider resuming any breakfast and after-school provision, where possible, from the start of the autumn term. We recognise that schools may need to respond flexibly and build this up over time. Such provision will help ensure pupils have opportunities to re-engage with their peers and with the school, ensure vulnerable children have a healthy breakfast and are ready to focus on their lessons, provide enrichment activities, and also support working parents."
"As with physical activity during the school day, contact sports should not take place."
In this guidance, the government highlight the importance of risk assessments and the need to review and update these on a regular basis. A member of our team will organise to come to your school prior to our coaching sessions (days in advance) to carry out thorough risk assessments of all areas, equipment, and facilities that will be used during our sessions.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN SCHOOLS
The following statements come from the 'Physical activity in schools' section. Again, the government fully support the use of external coaches in schools for not only extra-curricular activities, but also encourage them to be used in curriculum time:
"Schools have the flexibility to decide how physical education, sport and physical activity will be provided whilst following the measures in their system of controls."
"Schools are able to work with external coaches, clubs and organisations for curricular and extra-curricular activities where they are satisfied that this is safe to do so."
PE WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS – ADAPTING WITH COVID
In most primary schools, Physical Education and Sport is taught by a range of staff, with a mixed level of experience and confidence when it comes to the planning and delivery of the PE curriculum. COVID 19 has made this an even more daunting prospect with numerous obstacles and factors that need to be considered with regards to the provision of PE and sport in schools.The Coronavirus Pandemic has raised a lot questions about the future of PE and sport in schools:
How can we deliver socially distanced PE lessons?
What activities can we do that will keep pupils engaged, active and having fun?
What sports and activities are safe for us to do?
How can we adapt sports and activities to remove physical contact?
Our team of PE and sport specialists will work with you and advise you on how to maximise the provision of PE and sport within your school through group workshops and/or webinars.
We offer half and full day options for workshops, and hourly options for Webinars, perfect for Inset or training days as well as afterschool CPD sessions. We will meet with your PE Coordinator prior to the workshops/webinars in order to discuss and highlight topics of importance, to ensure the content is tailored to your school's needs.
The workshops will be delivered in your school and consist of practical and theoretical elements. Webinars will be delivered online via video conferencing. At this moment in time, our main topic is adapting PE with COVID 19.
Other popular topics include:
Planning whole school PE programs and individual lessons (including wet weather lessons)
Assessment methods and monitoring progress
Promoting challenge and tailoring activities to different abilities/ages.
Awareness of well-being and safety
Incorporating numeracy and literacy
For more information about our PE workshops and webinars, or to enquire, contact us via our email below
PRIMARY STARS IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
We want to take this opportunity to offer our coaching service to support primary schools with the provision of PE, physical activity and extra-curricular activities for the autumn term, and beyond!