An evidence based reflection formed as part of a doctorate thesis which focussed on barriers to PEPAS in the Scottish curriculum. Recent initiatives aimed at making children physically active during class time such as the Daily Mile and more recently strength and conditioning based exercise programmes for primary children have received great media attention and are being touted as the answer to the obesity crisis (Collins,2018).

To support our goal of raising attainment & closing the poverty related attainment gap we know that successful learning stems from establishing and developing positive and respectful relationships with our learners, colleagues, parents and the communities we work with.

Galway was the setting for the 2018 Irish Primary P.E Association’s annual conference and what a glorious setting it was. I can see why Ed Sheeran wrote a song about this place, it was nearly as inspiring as the work going on at the conference. The conference was held at the NUIG sports centre and it was packed with workshops, delivered by some of Ireland’s most talented teachers and educators. The following workshops were on offer and I personally took part in the Irish dancing, back to basics, yoga and managing conflict.

I’ve delivered P.E to primary aged children for over six years and only now am I discovering how big an impact positive P.E can have on primary children’s lives, especially team game experiences.Delivering and developing game-play for primary aged children can be challenging and requires time and work but the benefits of a great team games experience can be so vast it’s hard to fathom. 

I remember at primary school, we had a ‘gym’ teacher. Her name was Mrs Kidd and she taught us “gym” twice a week. We also had a gym hall, the centre hall which had two big areas, one on either side of the working area. This was curtained off from the hall and used as the boys and girls changing rooms respectively.

Plenty of discussion points at the SATPE AGM 2018 held on 4th September 2018. Read through the minutes of the Annual General Meeting and feel free to contact us with any further feedback.