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.
- 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. We pinpointed this strand as our area of further development.
Many of these games we play can be seen in the Physical Activity section of the ASF website. The importance of the strand is clearly highlighted on our standardised P.E. timetable which is attached in two parts below:
Many of these games we play can be seen in the Physical Activity section of the ASF website. The importance of the strand is clearly highlighted on our standardised P.E. timetable which is attached in two parts below:
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One particular request that our committee made in relation to the Games strand was for the purchase of indoor basketball hoops for use all year round. They asked...and we provided!
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CPD in PE
Members of staff regularly undertake Continuous Professional Development in PE. Over the past number of 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 attends their annual conference.
Furthermore, Dromclough N.S. has been used as a 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 and delivery of the Games strand.
Furthermore, Dromclough N.S. has been used as a 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 and delivery of the Games strand.
Land PAWS Water Safety Programme
Water safety is a critical understanding that children need to learn about in primary school. PAWS teaches children how to be safe around water in homes, farms, pools, beaches and on our waterways, and is written and designed for different age groups.
Every year pupils from Rang 4 get the opportunity to partake in a series of swimming lessons in Tralee Recreational Sports and Leisure Centre. Unfortunately, when Covid-19 hit last year, these lessons never materialised. Instead, the children engaged in remote learning of the Land PAWS programme via Zoom lessons and completing schoolwork tasks on Seesaw as can be seen in the image below. As a result, we are confident that these pupils are safe in the knowledge they have upskilled for future encounters with the water.
This year, we have created virtual copies of all of the workbooks (Infants, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th) for pupils to learn from and enjoy. Children in 2nd and 4th classes will complete the programme in Term 3 and undergo tasks from the workbooks digitally for homework on Seesaw.
Every year pupils from Rang 4 get the opportunity to partake in a series of swimming lessons in Tralee Recreational Sports and Leisure Centre. Unfortunately, when Covid-19 hit last year, these lessons never materialised. Instead, the children engaged in remote learning of the Land PAWS programme via Zoom lessons and completing schoolwork tasks on Seesaw as can be seen in the image below. As a result, we are confident that these pupils are safe in the knowledge they have upskilled for future encounters with the water.
This year, we have created virtual copies of all of the workbooks (Infants, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th) for pupils to learn from and enjoy. Children in 2nd and 4th classes will complete the programme in Term 3 and undergo tasks from the workbooks digitally for homework on Seesaw.
PAWS outlines life-saving guidelines for children of every age and is available digitally for families at home: You can also access whiteboard sized lesson books, puzzles and games, videos and other useful resources on the following link:
Download these colourful posters for more information about keeping safe in the pool or outdoors at the beach.
Download these colourful posters for more information about keeping safe in the pool or outdoors at the beach.
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.
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As part of our PE School Plan, the 15 FMS' are to be taught over two rolling years and in connection with the strand being taught at that particular time. The aim is to embed one skill into one strand e.g. Dodging = Games; Balancing = Gymnastics; Jumping for Height/ Distance = Athletics.
Each learning experience lasts for six weeks or as close to this as possible based on the academic calendar. Therefore two new skills are introduced each term and, in total, each teacher prioritises six different FMS' for further development within the PE programme every year.
Our FMS Plan 2021-2023 is attached below:
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During the Covid lockdowns teachers created active videos for all pupils to participate in. Examples are attached below. Click on them to watch and join-in with the activities:
Balance Video 1: Infants - 2ndDodging Video 1: Infants - 2nd |
Balance Video 1: 3rd - 6thDodging Video 1: 3rd - 6th |
Balance Video 2: Infants - 6thDodging Video 2: Infants - 6th |
For information about fundamental movement skills please go the following website where you will find introductory videos, posters, fun games and lots more:
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 30-Day Fitness Challenge. 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 30-Day Fitness Challenge. 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.
