Physical Education
In Dromclough N.S. we deliver a broad and balanced, high quality P.E. curriculum that caters for the needs of all our pupils.
Our talented and dedicated teachers plan, organise and deliver a prescribed PE curriculum during timetabled lessons as well as through extra-curricular activities.
This section of the Active School Flag, the "paperwork section" if you like, details the arrangements that the school has put in place to ensure all pupils are provided with a minimum of 60mins. of timetabled physical education each week across the six different strands of the P.E. curriculum.
Planning is crucial to make sure that PE is accessible for each and every child. Much of this planning centres around engagement with the following:
The key principles of Physical Education in Dromclough NS are:
In Dromclough N.S. we deliver a broad and balanced, high quality P.E. curriculum that caters for the needs of all our pupils.
Our talented and dedicated teachers plan, organise and deliver a prescribed PE curriculum during timetabled lessons as well as through extra-curricular activities.
This section of the Active School Flag, the "paperwork section" if you like, details the arrangements that the school has put in place to ensure all pupils are provided with a minimum of 60mins. of timetabled physical education each week across the six different strands of the P.E. curriculum.
Planning is crucial to make sure that PE is accessible for each and every child. Much of this planning centres around engagement with the following:
- PE School Plan
- Primary PE Curriculum inc. the Seven Key Messages for P.E.
- Primary PE Teacher Guidelines
- PSSI lesson plans
- PDST PE Support Service
- Move Well, Move Often resources
- Land PAWS Water Safety Programme
- Irish Primary PE Association
The key principles of Physical Education in Dromclough NS are:
- All pupils receive 1 hour of timetabled PE per week, as a minimum.
- All classes are taught 5 different PE strands each year: Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games and Outdoor and Adventure. Pool-based Aquatics is taught to 4th class for 6 lessons in Tralee Regional Sports and Leisure Centre. All other classes partake in theory-based Aquatics.
- A different PE strand is chosen each year for further development. In 2020/21, Games is our key focus.
- A standardised PE timetable is organised at the beginning of each year to ensure a balanced programme of physical activity. The new Fundamental Movement Skills programme has been integrated into this.
- All sporting and exercise-related efforts and achievements are always acknowledged at weekly Assembly and on our ASF notice boards. With little events currently taking place due to Covid-19 this has been significantly curtailed. Pupils still relay their achievements where possible in our online Zoom calls with the other classes.
- All pupils receive PE homework once per week, related to the PE strand that they are working on at the time.
- Every child's progress in PE is discussed with parents at PT meetings and feedback is included in the annual end-of-year school report.
Games
The strand of Games plays a central role in the PE curriculum. In Sept. 2019 we pinpointed this strand as our area of further development. As the year in school was unfortunately cut short and with many of our outdoor games (as well as Active Schools Week) having to be deferred we have decided to continue with this strand as our number one focus for 2020/21.
Many of these games we play can be seen in the Physical Activity section of the ASF website. Last year, o+ne particular request that our committee made was for the purchase of indoor basketball hoops for use all year round. They asked...and we provided!
Many of these games we play can be seen in the Physical Activity section of the ASF website. Last year, o+ne particular request that our committee made was for the purchase of indoor basketball hoops for use all year round. They asked...and we provided!
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Land PAWS Water Safety Programme
Water safety is a critical understanding that children need to learn about in school. We are currently awaiting the booklets from Irish Water Safety to teach these valuable life lessons to the pupils.
CPD in PE
Members of staff regularly undertake Continuous Professional Development in PE. Over the past 3 years since its launch, teachers have attended Workshops 1-3 of the Move Well, Move Often seminars while Mr. Enright is a member of the Irish Primary PE Association and attended their annual conference in Mary Immaculate College last February.
Furthermore, for each of the past two school years - prior to Covid-19 - Dromclough N.S. has been used as the venue for a CPD in PE workshop. The most recent in-service was on the topic of Playground Games and all members of staff were in attendance highlighting how we all work together to strengthen our understanding of the Games strand.
Furthermore, for each of the past two school years - prior to Covid-19 - Dromclough N.S. has been used as the venue for a CPD in PE workshop. The most recent in-service was on the topic of Playground Games and all members of staff were in attendance highlighting how we all work together to strengthen our understanding of the Games strand.
PE Equipment and Storage
We pride ourselves on the vast quantity of PE equipment that we have available for use. We have a plentiful supply of resources for all of the strands of the PE curriculum. In 2016, we invoiced for necessary equipment and, again in 2019, we made big investments in up-stocking to meet requirements.
An audit of all PE equipment is completed once a year and documented. All materials are kept in our spacious storage unit within the Halla Mór and are clearly labelled, well organised and easily accessible.
An audit of all PE equipment is completed once a year and documented. All materials are kept in our spacious storage unit within the Halla Mór and are clearly labelled, well organised and easily accessible.
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As well as the indoor basketball hoops requested by pupils (mentioned above) some of our other most recent investments include a rolling trolley for storing and transporting gymnastics mats, new basketballs to accompany the hoops, a set of dodgeballs, hurling helmets and balls, foam javelins, coloured bibs, pitch markers and a mini trampoline. We're very proud of our collection of resources at this stage!
Fundamental Movement Skills
In recent years, the PDST has decided to evolve the learning outcomes of the Physical Education syllabus by introducing the 15 fundamental movement skills. These basic skills form the foundations for all movement associated with exercise and physical activity and mastering them are seen as a necessary requirement in order to be considered physically literate.
As part of our PE School Plan, the FMS' are to be taught in connection with the strand being taught at that particular time. The aim is to embed one skill into one strand with each learning experience lasting for six weeks. Therefore two new skills will be introduced each term and in total, each teacher will prioritise six different FMS' for further development within the PE programme every year.
As part of our PE School Plan, the FMS' are to be taught in connection with the strand being taught at that particular time. The aim is to embed one skill into one strand with each learning experience lasting for six weeks. Therefore two new skills will be introduced each term and in total, each teacher will prioritise six different FMS' for further development within the PE programme every year.
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ASF Publicity
From the moment visitors enter the school grounds, our Active Schools ethos is made clear to them with our banner "We are an Active School". Further to this, on entering our sports hall we have a wonderful and informative ASF display area for them to feast their eyes upon.
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Two notice boards located right outside our sports hall keep pupils up to date on all new correspondence in relation to the Active School Flag. The boards are updated regularly to maintain relevance e.g. Well Done Wall to acknowledge pupil achievements and posters demonstrating each new fundamental movement skill.
Sports books for pupils and teachers as well as PE literature for staff are kept within the ASF library located in the same convenient place.
Ideas for improvements are always welcome to our committee members by placing them in our ASF Suggestion Box.
Sports books for pupils and teachers as well as PE literature for staff are kept within the ASF library located in the same convenient place.
Ideas for improvements are always welcome to our committee members by placing them in our ASF Suggestion Box.
PE Homework
In an effort to promote an active lifestyle outside of school each pupil is required to complete physical homework once per week. It is one of the key criteria of our P.E. school plan and is stringently implemented in each classroom. Click on the button below to find a copy of the letter sent home to parents in Oct. 2019.
January is always a good time to push the concept of health and fitness and so for Term 2 of the current academic year, we are piloting the Active Homework Ideas chart created by the ASF team. Pupils can download the document by clicking on the link below.
January is always a good time to push the concept of health and fitness and so for Term 2 of the current academic year, we are piloting the Active Homework Ideas chart created by the ASF team. Pupils can download the document by clicking on the link below.
Supertroopers booklets are also used to support and promote healthy minds and bodies at home. These booklets come in three forms (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) and are sponsored to schools each year for free by Laya Healthcare. Laya Super Troopers is a programme which encourages children and their families to live happier and more active lifestyles through short burst, fun daily activities around physical activity, wellbeing and nutrition.
