Research shows that children who are competent in Fundamental Movement Skills are more likely to enjoy sports and activities and to develop a lifelong commitment to physical activity. Research also suggests that children who do not master Fundamental Movement Skills are more likely to drop out of physical activity in life.
Get Skilled, Get Active, 2000
What are Fundamental Movement Skills?
When teaching a child, we break down simple skills into key components to help the child learn and understand. In teaching a child to read, we teach them about letters and the sounds they make, and how to combine them to make words and sentences so that they are comfortable with language and can grow into advanced readers. In teaching movement we want to do the exact same thing!
Physical literacy is the ability for an individual to move competently and confidently in all types of environments -- it is the literacy of movement. The key components of physical literacy, the letters and words, if you will, are the fundamental movement skills! These include: throwing, catching, jumping, striking, running, kicking, agility, balance and coordination. Fundamental movement skills are very important in the physical development of a child. When a child is confident and competent with these skills, they can develop sport-specific and complex movement skills that allow them to enjoy sport and physical activity.
Physical Education is about providing high-quality opportunities for students to develop a broad range of physical activities and inspire all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. Children learn how to take risks, become resourceful, respectful, fair and capable citizens. A central focus is to help all children become physically literate by developing their Fundamental Movement Skills. The Physical Education program is a vehicle to develop a range of personal, social, physical, cognitive and creative abilities that transfer outside the sporting environment. High quality physical education makes an essential contribution to the leadership, culture, role-models and values of the nation.
We use the scheme of work which has been designed by Create Development real PE real learning real evidence. Below is an outline of the program which shows the skills children will be learning each term. Year 3 and 4 participate in weekly swimming lessons.
Physical Education Long Term Plan
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Coordination Floor Movement Patterns Static Balance Personal Skills Dance |
Cognitive Skills and Balance Dynamic balance Static balance |
Ball Skills Coordination Counter balance Creative skills Invasion games |
| Year 2 | Agility and balance Dynamic balance Static balance Social Skills |
Cognitive Skills and Balance Dynamic balance Static balance Gymnastics |
Ball Skills Coordination Counter balance Creative skills Invasion games |
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | Coordination Floor Movement Patterns Foot patterns Personal Skills |
Ball Skills Coordination Invasion games Cognitive Skills Gymnastics |
Health and Fitness Agility Ball Chasing Invasion games Athletics |
| Year 4 | Dynamic Balance and Agility / Learning to compete Static balance Dynamic balance Social Skills Netball |
Balance and coordination Gymnastics Static Balance: small base Balance transfer competition |
Health and Fitness Agility Ball chasing Keep away games Athletics |
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | Ball Skills Mixed Netball Invasion Games Personal Skils |
Balance and Coordination Gymnastic Static Balance: small base Balance transfer Dynamic balances |
Dance Floor movement patterns Balance and coordination Social skills |
| Year 6 | Tag Rugby Floor movement patterns Personal skills |
Athletics Health and Fitness Track events Field events |
Ball Skills Football Invasion Games Social Skills |
You can find out more about the Physical Education program we use by visiting the Create Development realPE website.