Physical education

The physical education curriculum outlines a balances range of activities for children and allows schools considerable flexibility in planning a programme that meets the needs of the school.

The curriculum is divided into six strands:

   Athletics

   Dance

   Games

   Outdoor and adventure activities

   Gymnastics

   Aquatics

The Athletics strand incorporates a broad range of running, jumping and throwing activities. These enjoyable movement activities provide the young child with individual challenges and motivate him/her to engage in more formal activities later on. The Dance strand encourages children to improve body management skills, understand movement, work with others, and develop creativity and imagination. The Gymnastics strand focuses on body actions such as jumping, turning, swinging and balancing and on the control and management of body movements in increasingly challenging situations.

Developing an understanding of games will enable children to appreciate and enjoy games as participants and spectators.

The outdoor and adventure activities strand is a new and exciting aspect of the curriculum. Schools can plan walking, cycling, orienteering and other outdoor challenges suited to their own circumstances. The Aquatics programme involves not only teaching children how to swim but also promoting enjoyment of water-based activities. The curriculum stresses the importance of play in the development of competence in the water.