Enjoying and participating in physical activity is an important part of the primary curriculum - and thanks to government Sports Premium funding, each year there are new opportunities to improve how your school promotes and supports regular movement. In this post we'll be sharing our top ways of utilising this important funding to support activity for all. Our full range of Sports Premium resources is viewable here, and today we'll be exploring those options in more depth. First, though, let's break down how the government expects it to be used. PE and Sport Premium should target:

  • Increasing all staff's confidence, knowledge and skills in teaching PE and sport
  • Increasing engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity and sport
  • Raising the profile of PE and sport across the school, to support whole school improvement
  • Offer a broader and more equal experience of a range of sports and physical activities to all pupils
  • Increase participation in competitive sport

So, with these key targets in mind, here are our top Cosy ways to get your students moving with the support of Sports Premium!

Kit out your playground

One key intention of Sports Premium funding is to increase accessibility to, and enjoyment of, movement for all children. This means not just children who enjoy large group sports, are naturally active or enjoy engaging in big gross motor skills. It's also about giving a broader and equal access to movement, moving away from gender stereotypes and gendered activities. With this in mind, giving access to self-selective playground equipment to cover a range of interests is a great way to get learners moving and engaging.

Apparatus

If you're thinking about larger scale apparatus, we have a great range of options that are sure to pique the interest of learners. From our four hoop basketball trainer to our monkey bar many ways set and toddler physical development set, there are ample ways to get learners interested in the opportunities around them. Mimicking parks and adventure centres are sure to get even the most hesitant of explorers up, looking around and moving!

Movement kits

Movements are a go-to for Sports Premium funding and for good reason. Offering lots of different activities with hard-wearing, multi-use items has great potential to get children exploring, playing and moving with minimal pressure to perform or achieve. Our Breaktime Activity Set is a good start for low pressure but high interest items. Our Funtime Play Box also encourages lots of individual and group activities. Finally our easy to carry and store Pick Up and Catch Tub is great for lunchtimes, easily stored and ideal for midday supervisors to grab and go.

Loose parts

Physical movement isn't just about sports and typical resources. Lots of gross and fine motor skills are used during construction play and role play, especially when you combine them with loose parts! Why not invest in a full Loose Parts Panacea and get children moving, lifting, stacking and rolling to create all sorts of fun set ups while moving their bodies? This not only gets learners active, but incorporates a breadth of other skills such as teamwork, problem solving and design thinking! Increase the activity even further with our Fun Barrels, perfect for obstacle courses, climbing, jumping and more.

Forest school provision

Again, it's important not to just focus on traditional sporting activities when you're deciding how to use sports premium funding. If you're lucky enough to have a forest school or trim trail, your funding can help kit out this area with resources that encourage movement. Even if you don't have a set space for forest school, these resources work well as standalone, multi-skill items too. Our Balance Bars look great in the woods but equally fun on the astroturf, while our Ladders Set are great for obstacle courses anywhere where there is space!

Staff training

Finally, but certainly not last in place in terms of priority, is utilising Sports Premium funding for staff training. Knowledge is power, and providing a school community with awareness of what makes great physical activity could be just as beneficial as increasing the resources available in your setting. Perhaps you could train up midday supervisors on fun group sports games to have going at break times, train up interested staff members in yoga for kids, or finally give that football loving teacher the chance to take a coaching qualification? Remember, once a staff member is well trained in an area, they can often then go to provide informal training to your wider staff body, so training isn't just limited to one member or group.

Happy moving!

Remember, sports and activity is about joy and health, at all phases of life. Utilising your funding to promote these attitudes to getting moving will pay off over the lifetime of your learners. So, use it wisely, and enjoy!