One of the questions I am often asked by parents is 'how do we keep our children playing sport longer?'
While there are so many different ways to answer that question, I think providing consistent and progressive opportunities to develop children’s fundamental movement skills is a fantastic platform to build on.
There are so many reasons why reasons why primary sport matters.
We are acutely aware that our sessions have a major impact on factors like social skills, self-esteem, and mental health.
These factors are amplified by the fact that 52% of children and young people in England don’t meet the chief medical officer’s guidelines for daily activity.
I am very conscious of our school’s position and how crucial our PE lessons are to the development of our pupils’ fundamental skills, and that’s why our Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) program is a key part of our PE curriculum.
Studies show that physical activity dramatically declines as children advance from primary to secondary school, while research attributes that decline to a lack of proficiency in FMS.
A typical lesson varies from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, however there is a defined focus on each child’s development, regardless of their initial level of proficiency.
Coordination has been the major focus for Key Stage 1 pupils, building on skills like catching, throwing, kicking and striking technique before moving into adapted games, which becomes more of a focus in Key Stage 2.
This FMS program has been implemented across all year groups at Highfield Prep School, and will provide all pupils with an improved level of physical literacy, ensuring they have the confidence, ability and transferable skills to pursue any sport they desire.
There are strong links between increased physical activity and improved academic performance, and one of our key tasks as a PE department is ensuring that our lessons are not just time for pupils to release pent up energy.
The combination of an increase in timetabled sport in Reception and the implementation of a school-wide FMS program highlight Highfield’s commitment to a more well-rounded and holistic approach to physical education.
While there will be ample opportunity for children to develop sport-specific skills, the PE department at Highfield have placed emphasis on including FMS as part of the curriculum.
We know there are benefits to teaching sport-specific skills like a slide tackle in football or shooting a goal in netball, however to keep children engaged in physical activity well beyond their time at Highfield, improving our children’s fundamental movement skills is critical.
Highfield are proud to offer a diverse range of sports including rugby, football, cricket, netball and hockey, while our extra-curricular clubs make use of the fantastic Harrogate Ladies’ College facilities, which feature a purpose built sports hall, swimming pool, and wellness centre.
Primary sport matters, and we’re proud to be ensuring our pupils – even long after they’ve left Highfield – are equipped with the skills to pursue whatever sport they’re drawn to.
