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Articles and information about school sports and active learning.
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A reflection on what has been a Challenging yet Positive 20 - 21
As the most difficult academic year of our 15 year existence draws to a close, we reflect on the incredible work our team has done to continue supporting schools and pupils during challenging times.
New Podcast Series - The Primary PE Huddle
In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Primary PE Huddle, hosts Dan Hays and Andrew Stanton are joined by Dr Andy Daly-Smith, Children’s Physical Activity Researcher.
8 reasons why children benefit from Physically Active Learning
Indoor break is no fun for teachers. This is partly because it’s harder to set up the classroom for the next lesson or get some marking done, but mainly because teachers instinctively understand that children need the time to move around and prepare their brains for learning.
It sounds good, but does physically active learning actually work?
Learning maths whilst being physically active. It definitely sounds like fun, but does it really work? The short answer is yes, it does. A six-week study conducted by academics at Leeds Beckett University has concluded that the Maths on the Move (MOTM) programme both improves maths attainment and increases physical activity levels.
Mental Health Awareness Week
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health issue of some kind every year, looking after our mental health should be in the forefront of all our minds.
Applying Values - A Vital Programme For All Schools!
You may have seen the exciting release of our brand new active PSHE programme, Applying Values on our social media and in your inbox, but do you really know what it is and how it can benefit your pupils?
Getting to know Coach Josh
I first started coaching at the age of 16, I volunteered and soon started having more roles helping out in communities providing football sessions.
Getting to know Coach Henry
After completing Sixth Form I decided to go into coaching with Sweeney Multisports where I spent my first year of Sport Coaching in schools. I learnt a lot whilst shadowing other coaches and enjoyed my first year there and now I’m presently at Pro Sport.
Getting to know Coach Zac
I started coaching after college part-time whilst working at a SEN school in Burnley. I then since joined Pro Sport and have done coaching certificates in a variety of different sports including Football, Cricket, Dodgeball, Ultimate Frisbee, OAA and multi-sports.
Getting to know Coach Matty
I started coaching after graduating from university after studying sports science and coaching studies. I shadowed coaches at Sweeney’s Multi Sport, which allowed me to grow my knowledge and coaching opportunities. I have also worked with a local grassroots football team.
Getting to know Coach Zoe - Head of Dance, Acrobatics & Yoga
"I have been dancing since I was the age of 7 and never looked back. I started teaching dance when I was 15. I was 16 when I took my official exam with the IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) to become a street dance teacher."
Getting to know Brianne - Head of QA, Programme & Staff Development
"From my first day in Reception, I knew I wanted to become a teacher, and everything I did at school from that day on was leading to achieving that goal. I was an Early Years teacher and PE coordinator for 4 years, before moving into delivering PE full time as Head of PE in a large, urban primary school. "
Children’s Mental Health Week
This week is Children’s Mental Health week, and with us in our third lockdown in a year, focusing on our pupils’ well being is more important than ever. Most of us are delivering the majority of our lessons remotely, which makes monitoring children’s mental health and general welfare just that little bit harder. We have come up with some ideas to help, not just for this week but for every week!
Getting to know Coach Calum
"I started coaching in the summer of 2013 just before I started studying Sports Coaching at university. Shortly after I joined the coaching team of a local grassroots club, which I still keep in contact with, I loved it and learnt a lot quickly."
Getting to know Coach Hassan
"I have been working with children and young people since the age of 17 in different environments from youth clubs, grassroots football, primary schools, colleges, community inclusion programmes and for a number of sport coaching organisations which includes a professional football clubs registered charity."
Autumn Term Reflection
With an extremely well-deserved Christmas break just around the corner, we thought now would be a good time to have a look back at a strange, but successful Autumn Term here at Pro Sport Coaching.
Support your pupils' well-being, upskill your team and embed Yoga into your school
There are so many benefits to practising yoga on a regular basis, and with everything going on at present with COVID-19, supporting the mental health and well-being of children and young people is more important than ever.
Why is Physical Development so important in The Early Years?
Enabling children to be physically active and providing a variety of opportunities to apply physical movement skills is standard practice in Early Years settings, but do we all really understand why it is important to offer this provision?
COVID, Schools and Pro Sport
During the peak lockdown period, children from disadvantaged areas did on average 1 hour less of learning every day compared to their peers. Some headteachers have predicted that this means it could take up to two years to bring some children back to their correct attainment level.
Upskill teachers, deliver outstanding PE and stay COVID-19 secure
For children, all at once, they were unable to go to school, see their friends or, for a long time, spend more than 1 hour per day outdoors. A concerning consequence of these necessary restrictions has been the drastic drop in children's activity levels.
Maths on the Move is ready to relaunch
Navigating a new school year, tough enough at the best of times and this is not the best of times. Lockdown saw teachers transform the way they teach, going above and beyond for their pupils. Yet the implications of four months without face-to-face learning are inescapable.
What is PECS?
The acronym PECS stands for Physical Education Curriculum Support. In a nutshell, it is a programme of mentoring for primary school teachers that enhances their knowledge and confidence in teaching PE.
Maths on the Move Case Study - Mellor St Mary Primary School
Maths on the Move! A Case Study describing the positive impact that Pro Sport Coaching and Maths on the Move had on children at this school.
We’re not promising it works, we’re proving it does.
Full of words and empty promises, so often is the case when it comes to businesses and what they can offer you. You’re promised the world and end up with merely a loss of time, money, energy and patience. So, forget the words, we’re here with the data.
Why can't children just sit still?
How much energy do you use trying to get pupils to be quiet, to be focused, to just sit still? How much time is spent by you getting pupils to conform to classroom convention and how much by them trying to resist their natural disposition to move? ...
1 in 3 overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school.
1 in 5 children is overweight or obese when they begin school and 1 in 3 children is overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school. Surprised? read more...
A classroom is for sitting, right?
You’ve probably heard about it by now, the idea of physically active learning. Gone are the days when pupils would spend an entire hour sat behind their desks.Okay, we may be being bit optimistic suggesting this no longer happens, but we can dream, can’t we?And why do we dream this to be a thing of the past? You only have to look at the facts…
What is Maths on the Move?
You know the saying ‘It does what it says on the tin’? Well, that’s Maths on the Move. It’s doing maths whilst on the move. Of course there’s a whole lot more to say about this innovative programme designed by teachers for teachers; but the concept is that simple.