Exercise at school

Counting_Pennies_2

Does anyone know what the government guidelines are for exercise in school? Primary especially.

My children attend a school with very limited space. They have one session indoor PE and one outdoor PE each week.

The sessions also include the need to get changed, which can take up to 20 mins each time.

When it is raining they miss the outdoor PE as there is no additional indoor PE space.

The school put on lots of extra activities for the children, which is lovely, but that involves using the school hall. So when this happens, the indoor PE gets cancelled.

My DS has done two indoor PE sessions in 2013 due to the extra activities in the hall and missed two outside due to rain and snow.

I am starting to get rather frustrated. They get lots of exercise outside of the school, and walk in everyday, but I do feel frustrated the school see exercise as a nice to have but not necessary.

Thanks

thegirlintheattic

I think the recommendation is two hours a week, not sure if it is a rule as I don't teach PE.

maman

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I think the recommendation is two hours a week, not sure if it is a rule as I don't teach PE.

That's my understanding too but I'm not sure if it's a statutory requirement.

Schools are between a rock and a hard place on this one especially those with limited facilities like OP's children. There is huge pressure to 'cram' pupils in the 'hard' subjects for league tables plus fit in all the rest of the curriculum and try to do other things like have visitors (often needing the hall) in to enhance the learning and make it a bit more 'fun'. On top of that many school halls are out of bounds before and after lunch to set up for meals and clear away and a period of each day for assembly.

Across the year it probably balances out as when it's fine in the summer most teachers will try to fit in a bit of extra outside games.

Good to hear they're getting exercise after school, many don't.

Lotus-eater

This is something I don't worry about, schools have enough to do without checking the kids have enough exercise.
That should be down to the parents and I'm sorry for all the kids whose parents don't care, but that's not my problem.

You say your kids get enough exercise out of school, so why the worry?

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

This is something I don't worry about, schools have enough to do without checking the kids have enough exercise.
That should be down to the parents and I'm sorry for all the kids whose parents don't care, but that's not my problem.

You say your kids get enough exercise out of school, so why the worry?

My husband was educated somewhere where pe wasn't mandatory. You'd be surprised how many basic skills are enhanced by good pe ( as opposed to just exercise), especially from kids from non physical families. Things like proprioception, spacial awareness, some element of Mulitasking and some social skills in team games. even so e aspects of physics in a very practical way.

If you are saying its not like the three Rs then I agree, but valuable, as valuable as so e other things...absolutely.

Sadly, p.e. wasn't always as well taught as it could be, helping everyone find some activities they like and developing those skills.

Spendless

My daughter aged 9 (yr 5) does 1 session of PE per week, which is either indoor or outdoor depending on weather. It was suspended during the run-up to Christmas due to them practising their Xmas play. She also currently does 1 swimming session via school per week, thought this will stop at Easter, when she will have done a full year of it. I am unsure of duration of either of these.

I have just looked at my son's timetable at Secondary school (yr 8) and he does a double session every week of either indoor gym or outdoor games and in addition does one sessin of dance per fortnight. This is a complusory subject for him till he gets to yr 9.

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

My husband was educated somewhere where pe wasn't mandatory. You'd be surprised how many basic skills are enhanced by good pe ( as opposed to just exercise), especially from kids from non physical families. Things like proprioception, spacial awareness, some element of Mulitasking and some social skills in team games. even so e aspects of physics in a very practical way.

If you are saying its not like the three Rs then I agree, but valuable, as valuable as so e other things...absolutely.

Sadly, p.e. wasn't always as well taught as it could be, helping everyone find some activities they like and developing those skills.

That's what after school clubs were developed for.

For things that it wasn't necessary for schools to give during school time, but the kids would benefit by. Things the schools couldn't and shouldn't fit into their curriculum.

There are parents round here whose kids wouldn't go to those after school activities, but should that be my problem? Should my kids suffer, so those kids can get some decent play and bonding time with the others?
I say no, I feel sorry for those kids, no doubt, but it's not my fault, nor a reason my kids should be short changed on a decent school life.

pigpen

Lotus-eater wrote: »

This is something I don't worry about, schools have enough to do without checking the kids have enough exercise.
That should be down to the parents and I'm sorry for all the kids whose parents don't care, but that's not my problem.

You say your kids get enough exercise out of school, so why the worry?

indeed!!

Exercise isn't the schools responsibility and playing games is out of school activities and should not be taking up valuable teaching time. If parents can't ensure their children get enough exercise there is something wrong! An hour at the park after school, dance, swimming, ice skating etc all counts. and are lovely family activities for the weekend or after school.

Mine have a 1 hour physio session once a week, they do extra curricular football, netball, hockey, dance and other stuff and depending on season. They do 4 20 minute physio exercises a week. the littlies do swimming and ice skating weekly.

If your children are a healthy weight who cares if they haven't done a couple of hours freezing outside in this evil weather.

They only made PE compulsory because of the parents who have allowed or made their children fat and even then it is more down to diet than exercise!

Person_one

pigpen wrote: »

indeed!!

Exercise isn't the schools responsibility and playing games is out of school activities and should not be taking up valuable teaching time. If parents can't ensure their children get enough exercise there is something wrong! An hour at the park after school, dance, swimming, ice skating etc all counts. and are lovely family activities for the weekend or after school.

Mine have a 1 hour physio session once a week, they do extra curricular football, netball, hockey, dance and other stuff and depending on season. They do 4 20 minute physio exercises a week. the littlies do swimming and ice skating weekly.

If your children are a healthy weight who cares if they haven't done a couple of hours freezing outside in this evil weather.

They only made PE compulsory because of the parents who have allowed or made their children fat and even then it is more down to diet than exercise!

PE isn't just about keeping children thin!

Some of the people who won medals last summer were probably introduced to their sports at school. PE gives children a chance to try out loads of different types of sports and games that they'd probably never get to otherwise.

If we gave up on PE in schools it would have a huge impact on the mindset of the country regarding sport, I think.

When its done well, its great.

Dunroamin

pigpen wrote: »

indeed!!

Exercise isn't the schools responsibility and playing games is out of school activities and should not be taking up valuable teaching time. If parents can't ensure their children get enough exercise there is something wrong! An hour at the park after school, dance, swimming, ice skating etc all counts. and are lovely family activities for the weekend or after school.

Mine have a 1 hour physio session once a week, they do extra curricular football, netball, hockey, dance and other stuff and depending on season. They do 4 20 minute physio exercises a week. the littlies do swimming and ice skating weekly.

If your children are a healthy weight who cares if they haven't done a couple of hours freezing outside in this evil weather.

They only made PE compulsory because of the parents who have allowed or made their children fat and even then it is more down to diet than exercise!

What happens in a "physio session"?

pigpen

Person_one wrote: »

PE isn't just about keeping children thin!

Some of the people who won medals last summer were probably introduced to their sports at school. PE gives children a chance to try out loads of different types of sports and games that they'd probably never get to otherwise.

If we gave up on PE in schools it would have a huge impact on the mindset of the country regarding sport, I think.

When its done well, its great.

Most competitors had private out of school lessons. You do not get to olympic standard on an hour a week! What rubbish!! I know someone who played at Wimbledon and another Olympic level swimmer (she missed out by less than a second in Oly,pic qualifying) I went to school with.. neither did these things at school.

And very few of the children think it is great esp once they reach high school.. Only 1 of mine liked games lessons and it was only because he didn't have to do any writing! It should be optional for those who do other activities. I think I was 12 the last PE lesson I took part in.. it was humiliating and degrading and I felt exposed in little more than underwear (shorts and tshirt) I am absolutely not the only one who felt that way and I was a tiny skinny thing.