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.
Who is Dr Andy Daly-Smith?
Dr Daly-Smith’s passion is supporting schools, teachers and children to embrace physical activity.
His practice driven research focuses on the impact and implementation of physically active learning.
Key themes within his work include physical activity across the segmented school-day, whole-school approaches to physical activity and the efficacy, effectiveness and implementation of physically active learning.
As Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity and Behavioural Science at Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Dr Daly-Smith oversaw the physically active learning research project which featured the Aspire, Maths on the Move programme and evidenced the programme’s success in driving activity and improving maths attainment.
Dr Daly-Smith is currently a Reader in Healthy Childhood at the University of Bradford.
What’s covered in the podcast?
- What we can learn from the research surrounding physical activity and learning
- The barriers preventing physically active learning from taking place
- How to best utilise physically active learning in the curriculum
- The tracking of physical activity at primary age
- Teaching approaches and programmes which boost physical activity
- The key ingredients to achieve whole school engagement in physical activity
- Tips for practitioners who would like to embed Physically Active Learning in their primary school
In episode 2, Dan and Paul sit down to chat with guest Ian Griffiths.
Who is Ian Griffiths?
Ian is a Deputy Head Teacher at a primary school in Birmingham. Having grown up doing a lot of sport, he chose to study for a Sports degree and earned coaching badges in cricket and athletics.
After a stint of working as a cricket coach in schools, Ian decided to train as a teacher and with his passion for sport, was soon made PE subject leader in his school.
Ian has been teaching for 15 years and has also worked with Early Years developments for Birmingham City Council, as well as supporting with the delivery of the Level 5 PE accreditation.
As a member of senior leadership, he still has a very active role in PE delivery and development within his school. He is in a position to ensure that physical activity is integrated into the curriculum, although he is of course aware of the challenges that this can entail.
What’s covered in the podcast?
In this episode we:
· delve into Ian’s journey through sport and into teaching.
· find out Ian’s thoughts on the power of physical activity in primary schools.
· discuss how to ensure PE, sport and physical activity are at the heart of school life.
· get Ian’s top tips for embedding a top-down physically active ethos.
In episode 3 of The Primary PE Huddle, guests James Latham and Jonathan Smart from Excelsior Multi Academy Trust join hosts Dan and Paul to talk about their professional relationship and why it is key to the success of PE and Physical Activity in the Trust’s schools.
Who is James Latham?
James is PE Lead at Excelsior MAT. Alongside teaching and engaging children in regular activity, his role is to work with staff to increase their confidence, knowledge and skills in teaching PE & sport, and to raise the profile of PE and sport across the MAT.
With a degree in Sports & Exercise Science and Business Management, James has been involved with young people in sport and education throughout his career. He holds several coaching badges and a Level 5 Certificate in Primary School Physical Education Specialism.
James has also represented England as part of the England Lionhearts Rugby League and often uses this to inspire children work hard and strive for success.
Who is Jonathan Smart?
Jonathan was a Head Teacher for many years before becoming Deputy CEO at Excelsior MAT in 2018.
Jonathan has many strings to his education bow. He is a former Ofsted inspector, a Lead Reviewer for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), President of Birmingham Branch of NAHT and is a Local Leader of Education.
Jonathan believes that quality PE and Physical Activity in schools is essential and as a Senior Leader his support is instrumental in ensuring the success of James’ work.
What’s covered in the podcast?
- Jonathan gives us an SLT viewpoint on the importance of PE and Physical Activity in schools.
- We discuss how to create a successful collaboration between a PE Lead and SLT.
- We share ideas on how to embed a positive ethos and culture towards PE and Physical Activity.
Guest Helen Battelley is a world-renowned expert in physical activity in the Early Years. In this episode of The PE Huddle, Helen shares from her wealth of experience, and will inspire you to overhaul your provision. Helen’s enthusiasm for her work is infectious and her top tips will add creativity and fun to the learning in your school.
Who is Helen Battelley?
Helen is an Early Years PE and physical development specialist. As a consultant, trainer, author and speaker she is highly respected for her contribution to raising the profile of early years physical activity.
She has been working as a dance and movement specialist for over 19 years and continues to work directly with children as a researcher for Birmingham City University
The embodiment of her practice is to raise confidence and value in the areas of music, movement and physical activity.
What’s covered in the podcast?
In this episode, Helen:
- explains why PE, physical activity and physical development are so important in the Early Years (and Key Stage 1) and why an understanding of neuroscience is so valuable to Early Years educators.
- tells us why she believes that change needs to be made through a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down one.
- shares what she thinks are the key ingredients for a strong ethos towards PE, sport and physical activity in schools.
- discusses what the biggest challenges are that primary schools are facing at this time.
The PE Huddle podcast is back for a second series!
Episode 1 is now live, and Paul is in discussion with Stuart Jones.
Who is Stuart Jones?
Stuart is a busy man. In a one-form entry primary in Birmingham he holds many roles. Along with teaching Year 5, being Deputy Headteacher, managing Inclusion and leading History, Stuart is the school’s PE and School Sport Lead.
In the first episode of the new series of The PE Huddle, we meet Stuart and hear about his mission to make physical activity something that happens naturally and that is effortlessly integrated across the curriculum.
What’s covered in the podcast?
In this episode, Stuart:
- tells us how he supports early career teachers to become confident in teaching PE.
- shares how he ensures CPD is targeted to support individual teachers with what they really need.
- explains the approach the school is striving towards, where physical activity is naturally and effortlessly integrated in a cross curricular way.
- talks about how to get staff to see the benefit of physical activity within all lessons.
- discusses the importance of good high-quality PE that addresses not only the physical movement and learning of life skills but supports the wellbeing and mindfulness of the children.
In this week’s episode of the PE Huddle, Dan talks to Vanessa King, a PE consultant who knows that every school is different and believes that whatever the circumstances, one of the most important things you can do is always be looking for ways to develop yourself and your team.
Who is Vanessa King?
Vanessa is a qualified teacher with an MA in Primary Education. Vanessa has taught in schools in the UK as well as abroad and was a PE lead for many years. She’s soon due to finish a doctorate examining the contextual factors that impact upon PE, physical activity and sport experiences in primary schools in the UK.
In her current role as a consultant, she has worked with hundreds of teachers across the UK, supporting them in the delivery of PE to improve their knowledge and confidence of the subject.
Vanessa has also supported a number of organisations with the development of content including Association for Physical Education, Oak Academy, Hampshire PE and School Sport, Energise Me and a number of coaching organisations. She has presented at a number of conferences, including afPE initial teacher training and the afPE national conference.
What’s covered in the podcast?
In this episode, we discuss:
- Benchmarking in PE
- Implementing an action plan
- Creating a team and ethos focused on PE, school sport and physical activity
- How to build a team around you
- Developing staff for whole school impact
When Karl Rogerson walked into his Headteacher’s office and declared that PE teaching in the school wasn’t good enough and that he could make it better, he probably didn’t realise he was taking the first step in a career which would involve using PE to improve schools at all levels.
Karl joins us on this week’s episode of The PE Huddle to share his experiences
Who is Karl Rogerson?
Karl started his career as a teacher and is now the Principal of a three-form primary school in Birmingham. Along the way, he worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher for Physical Education and as a Curriculum Consultant for Birmingham Local Authority.
He is also Headteacher Ambassador for Youth Sports Trust and a facilitator on the Education Development Trust Schools partnership programme.
Karl is passionate about school improvement and the impact that high-quality teaching and learning can have on young people's lives, especially the most vulnerable in our society.
What’s covered in the podcast?
In this episode, Karl and Dan talk about:
- The importance of PE across the whole school
- How PE Leads and SLT can work together to develop PE
- Ways of engaging stakeholders at all levels
- The importance of celebrating your successes
- How innovation can be a game-changer
An ex-international gymnast, Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist and five times British Champion, Ryan Bradley is now the Director of RB Gym & Sport, working to develop and enhance the teaching of gymnastics in schools and supporting both teachers and pupils.
In his conversation with Dan Hayes in this week’s episode of The PE Huddle, Ryan reflects on his experiences working in schools and discusses ways in which teachers can raise their gymnastics game.
The podcast covers:
· Teaching gymnastics vocabulary
· The importance of building on fundamental skills, not just sequence difficulty
· Why gymnastics is key for building skills in all sports
· Challenging all children to reach their potential
· Why using a combination of types of CPD is vital
Whole school improvement is no small matter. As a teacher, SLT member, or school governor, it is your responsibility to plan for and make changes that will have a positive impact on not only assessment data but also the wellbeing of all members of the school community.
As an experienced school governor, Andy Heald is no stranger to school improvement and he believes that physical activity is key to success.
Listen to this week’s episode of The PE Huddle: Physical Activity for Whole School Improvement to find out more.
In the podcast, we discuss
- The importance of asking “What is the bigger picture?” when looking at the PE curriculum
- Why you should focus on the WHY, before the How and the What
- Andy’s belief that Activity + Achievement = Fun
- The need to create great physical activity experiences for children
