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Activkids and the National Curriculum

Activkids have developed their programme along the same guidelines as the current national curriculum for physical education. Although it is not intended as a complete substitute for children's physical education needs, it enhances and supplements what is already being taught, and in some cases introduces more advanced skills (at the children's age group level) than they may already be experiencing. At the same time, for those children who may find physical education challenging, the Activkids programme introduces an enjoyable and fun perspective on physical fitness and activities.

Levels of Attainment

Attainment targets sets out the "knowledge, skills and understanding that pupils of different abilities and maturities are expected to have by the end of each key stage"

(Education Act 1996, section 353a)

  • Level 1* - Copy, repeat and explore simple skills
  • Level 2* - Show understanding of simple tactics and basic compositional skills; understand the importance of how to exercise safely
  • Level 3* - Understand the importance of warming up before an activity
  • Level 4* - Understand the effects of exercise and how it is valuable to their fitness and health
  • Level 5* - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategy, tactics and composition
  • Level 6* - Respond to changing circumstances and analyse skills, techniques and ideas in their own and others work

* This is not the complete level of attainment set for physical education, but selected points.

The Activkids programme allows different levels to be demonstrated at various stages. Although not to the same standards as set out in the National Curriculum, it allows childrens to experience those skills that need to be demonstrated at a higher lever at a later stage in their physical education. It also allows children to reinforce skills that they may no longer need to demonstrate at their own key stage levels.

Key Stage 1

" During key stage 1 pupils build on their natural enthusiasm for movement, using it to explore and learn about their world and play with other pupils in pairs and small groups. By watching, listening and experimenting, they develop their skills in movement and coordination, and enjoy expressing themselves in a variety of situations"

The National Curriculum, 1999

Key Stage 1 Objectives Activkids Objectives

  • Acquiring and developing skills
  • explore basic skills, actions and ideas
  • remember and repeat simple skills and actions with increasing control and coordination
  • Increase awareness and exposure of fun and exciting physically active games and activities, providing opportunities for children to experience these in a non-discriminatory way
  • Selecting and applying skills, tactics and compositional ideas
  • apply skills in sequence and in combination
  • use simple tactics and movement phrases
  • apply rules
  • Introduce new active games, fitness exercises and sports skills with set rules and regulations
  • Evaluate and improve performance
  • Use what they have learnt to improve the quality and control of their work
  • Apply step-by-step syllabus (individual through to competition) to session development, allowing children to build on skills and confidence developed in previous sessions
  • Knowledge and understanding of fitness and health
  • importance of being active
  • recognise how they feel during activities
  • Introduce circuit training and reinforce the importance of physical fitness
  • Games activities
  • develop ball and other equipment skills
  • develop net and invasion type games skills
  • develop simple attacking and defending skills
  • Allow children to 'play' with a variety of sports equipment in their own space and time, without peer, coach or competition pressure

Key Stage 2

" During key stage 2 pupils enjoy being active and using their creativity and imagination in physical activity. They learn new skills, find out how to use them in different ways, and link them to make actions, phrases and sequences of movement. They enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They develop an understanding of how to succeed in different activities and learn how to recognise their own success."

The National Curriculum, 1999

Key Stage 2 Objectives Activkids Objectives

  • Acquiring and developing skills
  • consolidate existing skills and gain new ones
  • perform action and skills with more consistent control and quality
  • Increase awareness and exposure of fun and exciting physically active games and activities, providing opportunities for children to experience these in a non-discriminatory way
  • Selecting and applying skills, tactics and compositional ideas
  • plan, use and adapt strategies and tactics for individual, pair, small group and team activities
  • develop principles of tactics and strategies
  • apply rules
  • Introduce new active games, fitness exercises and sports skills with set rules and regulations
  • Evaluate and improve performance
  • identify what makes a performance effective and how it may be improved
  • Apply step-by-step syllabus (individual through to competition) to session development, allowing children to build on skills and confidence developed in previous sessions
  • Knowledge and understanding of fitness and health
  • importance of warm up and preparation
  • recognise why physical activity is good for health and well being
  • Introduce circuit training and reinforce the importance of physical fitness
  • Games activities
  • develop small sided games
  • develop net and invasion type games skills
  • work with others to organise and keep the games going
  • Allow children to 'play' with a variety of sports equipment in their own space and time, without peer, coach or competition pressure