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Our 12 Key Activities to Ensure you Meet the National Curriculum for Physical Education

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The national curriculum physical education programmes of study focuses on inspiring all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

The national curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
  • are physically active for sustained periods of time
  • engage in competitive sports and activities
  • lead healthy, active lives

By the end of each key stage, pupils in England are expected to know, apply and understand the matters skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.


Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 focuses on developing fundamental movement skills as well as building competence and confidence across a broad range of activities. KS1 Pupils should be able to engage in competitive and co-operative physical activities in a range of increasingly challenging situations.

  • KS1 pupils should be taught to:
  • master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities
  • participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending
  • perform dances using simple movement patterns

Key Stage 2

Pupils in KS2 should continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to transfer them to different scenarios and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement. They should develop an understanding on how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success. Pupils should also enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other.

KS2 pupils should be taught to:

  • use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
  • play competitive games, modified where appropriate, and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending
  • develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance
  • perform dances using a range of movement patterns
  • take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team
  • compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best

SOURCE: www.GOV.uk


Here at Creative Play we have a wide range of sports and fitness-focused equipment that focuses on the skills and techniques mentioned above. We have simplified these down into 12 key activities that can be easily summarised. See below for our list of these 12 key activities as well as key products ideally suited for each.


Running

“Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both feet on the ground at the same time.”

Our running tracks are always popular as they can be used for both PE lessons and break times (as well as after school clubs, too!). Whether they are created as part of an inlaid safety surfacing design (as above) or as thermoplastic marking strip, children can undergo cardiovascular exercise and improve their staminia and overall fitness.


Jumping

“Push oneself off a surface, into the air, by using the muscles in one’s legs and feet.”

Practise your jumping skills with our challenging Leapfrog Posts! Coming in a set of 4, children will love channelling their inner amphibian in the playground. A great aerobic exercise jumping is also fantastic for increasing bone density.


Throwing

“Propel something with force through the air by a movement of the arm and hand.”

Ball skills, such as throwing, are an important activity for children as they do not only help with a fitness, but also help address bilateral skills, hand-eye coordination, timing and increase attention. Our Green Mesh Steel Goal with integrated basket ball net is ideal for ball skills, such as throwing, as a child does not just work their arms and shoulders, but also their hips, wrists and core as they try a score.


Catching

“Intercept and hold something which has been thrown, propelled or dropped.”

Get ready to put your catching skills to the test with our Ball Catcher. Perfect both your throwing and catching skills as you try to get your ball into the central unit and catch it on the rebound. Ideal for both solo and group play, improve your hand-eye coordination and scenario planning skills with this playground favourite.

Other products we recommend: Penalty Play, Piggy in the Middle, 4 Square


Balance

“An even distribution of weight enabling someone to remain upright and steady.”

Not for just working your legs, improving your balance skills simultaneously works a multitude of muscles all over your body, challenging them to work together in new ways. Using sports and fitness items, such as our Zigzag Beam, are not just a great way of getting more control over your body, they can also aid improved posture and strength.

Other products we recommend: Balance Beam, Log Walk, Jelly Board


Agility

“The ability to move quickly and easily.”

Our Multi-Use Games Areas, or MUGAs, are ideal one-stop structures that can cover a variety of sports and fitness activities. Great for encouraging teamwork, children can put their agility skills to the test as they compete. With a wide range of colour options and sports markings available, why not tailor your MUGA to fit your individual needs and requirements?

Other products we recommend: Multi Court, Rounders, Hockey Target Panel


Coordination

“The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently.”

Once a child has grasped fundamental movement skills, coordinating different movements or actions together can still seem tricky. Popular items such as our A-Frame Double Net help children focus on both their legs and arms as they traverse, climb and descend the challenging structure in a safe environment.

Other products we recommend: Swinging Grips, Mirror Me, Stepping Logs


Teamwork

“The combined action of a group working towards the same end goal.”

Great for encouraging teamwork, groups of children can both collaborate and compete with our Target One. Featuring a Football and Penalty Play Target Panels along with a Goal End with Basketball Net, children can pick and choose what sporting activity they want to work on together.

Other products we recommend: MUGA, Ball Catcher, Tennis Target Panel


Rhythm & Movement

“A variety of fundamental movements usually undergone in a regular repeated pattern.”

Work on creativity as well as fundamental movement and hand-eye coordination skills with our Mirror Me thermoplastic playground marking. Lead and follow as you work in pairs to observe and match chosen movements and sequences.

Other products we recommend: Spin Spot, Arm & Pedal Bike, Twirler


Flexibility

“The quality of bending easily.”

By increasing a child’s flexibility items such as our Tai Chi Spinners allow children to work on their range of motion while undergoing play. Through repetitive usage, children can improve and develop their flexibility, enhance their aerobic capacity and improve muscle conditioning.

Other products we recommend: Hip Twister, Double Air Walker, Stretch Spot


Strength

“The quality or state of being physically strong.”

Ideal for challenging KS2 pupils, working on strength is great for increasing muscle mass as well as energy levels. Items such as our Overhead Ladder always go down a treat in any playground as they allow children to combine physical activity with imaginative play as they pretend to swing through the trees.

Other products we recommend: Pull-Up Bars, Swinging Grips, Seated Leg Press


Control

“The ability to hold a set position.”

Again, another challenging activity for KS2 pupils to master, control is all about intentional fundamental movement. Through control, children can become more aware of their bodies and how to limit or restrict movement when necessary. Classic items such as our Situps allow children to take control of their bodies while undergoing exercise and through isolation, become more aware about individual muscles.

Other products we recommend: Parallel Bars, Chin-Ups, Jelly Board