PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PDST Wellbeing Seminar Series - Focus on PHYSICAL EDUCATION (October 7th @ 7p.m.) 
This PDST webinar will support primary schools to focus on whole school wellbeing, by highlighting a range of new, practical resources for teaching PE. Our new 120 Non-Contact Activities for PE across the Primary School resource will support schools in teaching PE at all class levels while remaining cognizant of social distancing, and a wide range of new resources have been developed to support blended learning options, including PE Homework: Active Every Day, Beyond the Classroom: Developing Fundamental Movement Skills at Home, and PE at Home: strand-based video lessons suitable for home-based learning.  For more information about this webinar and to register click here 
 
PDST School Support 
Applications are now open for PDST customised in-school physical education support to all schools.  In order to apply for this free service schools need to go to www.pdst.ie/schoolsupport and follow the link to the application form. School support is currently taking place remotely and is tailored to the needs of the school.  
 
120 Non-Contact Activities for Physical Education across the Primary School
This resource has been developed to support the teaching of Physical Education across the primary school. Activities are generic and can be used as warm ups, cool downs and to support learning in any strand. The activities are designed to be non-contact in nature, to ensure social distancing in PE.  Click here to access this resource. 
 
(NEW) PE Homework – Strand Based Active Every Day Activity Book and Homework Charts
This resource has been developed by primary teachers to bring your child’s Physical Education experience home. The 'PE Homework - Active Every Day' activities are designed to complement the activities that your child is learning in school. It includes strand-based homework activities, charts and reflective templates.  This resource can be accessed here
 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

#BeActive EUROPEAN Week of Sport - 30 Ways to Use Your WALKWAY
Thank you to the many schools that shared their WALKWAY activities with us during #BeActive. It was great to see so many pupils outdoors being active and learning at the same time. Schools that won the outdoors speaker sets will be contacted before the end of this week.

(NEW) #FeelGoodFridays  
This is a NEW ASF initiative planned for the last teaching Friday of each month. The aim of the #FeelGoodFridays campaign is to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity for wellbeing.
  Find Out More - Active HALLOWEEN

All ASF activities during 20/21 must comply with COVID-safety guidelines 

 

PARTNERSHIPS

Sports Inclusion Disability Charter - CARA
Cara are very proud and excited to share the news that we have now reached 500 signees of the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter. Spanning all across Ireland, schools, third level institutions, sports clubs, leisure centres, disability services and national organisations have signed up to the Charter to help make sport and physical activity accessible for everyone. If your school or organisation would like to join with them and commit to making your organisation inclusive to people with disabilities, visit our website and sign up today!

Fit for ALL Week (12-18 October) - CARA
Fit For All is a national initiative aimed at increasing awareness among people with disabilities, families/carers and disability services on the benefits of regular exercise, healthy lifestyles and opportunities to participate within the local community. Find Out More
 

ASF RESEARCH Findings

In 2018 a research team from DCU asked ASF coordinators from primary schools what they perceived the BENEFITS of participating in ASF programme were for their schools. This is what they said: 

• Less active children became more active 97.9%
• Greater variety of physical activity opportunities 96.9%
• Improved concentration and focus 95.3%
• Generates a positive school atmosphere 94.3%
• Provides opportunities for pupil voice 93.7%
• Promotes collaborative PE planning 89.0%

This research captured really valuable teacher experiences 'on the ground' and has been used by ASF to provide better support to teachers coordinating the ASF process in their schools. 

In a second ASF research paper 'The Way That You Do It', also published over the summer months , the DCU team examined ASF as a process-orientated, school-based physical activity initiative with lots of interesting and very positive findings. 
Read More

'FIND OUT MORE' Webinar
Monday, October 12th @4.30pm and @7pm

NOW is a great time to start working towards ASF!

• The 'FIND OUT MORE' webinar is designed for PRIMARY schools that have not previously engaged with ASF and for schools wishing to renew their ASF. But everyone is welcome to join in. 
• The webinar will explain the ASF process, discuss the challenges and the benefits, and give advice about how to get process up and running. It also provides an opportunity for teachers to ask questions of the ASF team. 
• We are delighted to be joined in the webinar by Dr Jamie Mc Gann (DCU) who will present the latest ASF research findings, including teacher and pupil experiences of the ASF programme.    
• Book your place HERE 

ASF APPLICATION Process - Schools Working Towards ASF

• All ASF activities during 20/21 must comply with COVID-safety guidelines.  
• The ASF application documents are now accessible through the new ASF website LOG IN section.
• All ASF work undertaken last year remains valid and will appear on your application form when you re-open it
• In the 'Active School Week' section you will find 2 options:  Option 1 – Complete the section with information relating to an 'Active School Week' that you organised in your school. Option 2 – Use the #ActiveHomeWeek campaign that your school organised last year to fulfil the criteria for this section. 
• Applications will be sent for screening from October 5th onwards.
• Due to the current COVID circumstances we are unable to schedule accreditation visits at the present.

ADAPTATIONS to the ASF Application Process for 20/21

• All ASF activities during 20/21 must comply with COVID-safety guidelines.  
• Under normal circumstances schools are required to  complete ALL of the ASF criteria in order to achieve the ASF. We have removed the obligatory requirement from certain ASF criteria for 20/21 as we understand that it may not be possible for schools to complete this work this year. The COVID-adapted criteria are highlighted on the application form

ASF ADMINISTRATION

Please direct all enquiries to eolas@activeschoolflag.ie 
remembering to quote your school ROLL NUMBER in the subject line please.