Press Release
Date: Tuesday 06 June 2006 (NR/16/06)
A Joint Effort in Fundamental Movement Skills
Research shows that childhood obesity is on the increase and with many children in Northern Ireland being insufficiently active they fail to benefit from participation in sporting activities which can help to improve the development of physical skills, self-esteem, social skills and confidence as well as the obvious health benefits of a healthy active lifestyle.
“Developing Fundamental Movement Skills” is a new resource for primary schools which supports non specialist teachers in planning, teaching and assessing PE. Launched today at the Antrim Board Centre, it was designed by CCEA in partnership with the Education and Library Boards and the pilot schools. It will be distributed free of charge to all primary schools.
Speaking at the launch, Alison Thompson , Principal Officer for Primary Personal Development and PE at CCEA commented;
“Early childhood is the best time to teach and learn fundamental movement skills when young children are motivated and keen to master ways of moving, controlling their bodies and coordinating their movements. Being proficient in FMS enables children to participate confidently in play, PE, recreational and physical activities at home, in school and in the local community.”
By using this resource to teach Fundamental Movement Skills such as running, throwing, catching and kicking, children should be more able and willing to participate in sport and physical activity throughout their lives. This helps them to develop a positive attitude towards physical activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The new resource supports the Fundamental Movement Skills programme which was designed by Steps Professional Development in Perth and has been introduced to various primary schools by CCEA as a pilot with the help of the ELBs.
Steps Professional Development’s Consultant Pip Lynch highlights the value of this resource to primary school children;
“Research reveals that children’s inability to perform the basic movement skills such as running, throwing, catching and kicking is the main reason why they drop out of sport and physical activity. This new resource emphasises the importance of integration and demonstrates how movement skills can be linked with the development of a range of other skills such as language and social skills.”
Within the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum, PE plays an essential role in the physical development of all children. Through the use of CCEA’s new resource, teachers can introduce FMS to the classroom effectively.
Anyone wishing to find out more about Developing Fundamental Movement Skills should contact Alison Thompson at CCEA on 028 9026 1410 or email athompson@ccea.org.uk.
Schools participating in the pilot are:
- Millburn Primary School - Coleraine
- Seagoe Primary School - Portadown
- Seaview Primary School - Belfast
- Loughview Integrated Primary School - Belfast
- Lisnagelvin Primary School – Londonderry
Agenda
1.30 – 2pm |
Registration |
2pm |
Introduction & Welcome Alison Thompson (CCEA) |
2.10pm |
ELB perspective Iris Scarlett (SELB) |
2.20pm |
School’s perspective Janet Cartwright (Loughview Primary School) |
2.35pm |
Guest Speaker Pip Lynch (Steps Professional Development) |
2.45pm |
Launch resource Alison Thompson |
Media enquiries to Ruth Maguire on (028) 9026 1216, Mobile 07796947993. E mail rhmaguire@ccea.org.uk
ENDS
Note to Editors
CCEA is the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
CCEA places learners and those who have a concern for their educational and personal development at the forefront of its thinking. CCEA's mission is:
"To enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised"
What we do
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK , bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Advising Government – on what should be taught in Northern Ireland ’s schools and colleges.
Monitoring Standards – ensuring that the qualifications and examinations offered by awarding bodies in Northern Ireland are of an appropriate quality and standard.
Awarding Qualifications
– as Northern Ireland’s leading awarding body we offer a diverse range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, including the new GCSE Double Award specifications in vocational subjects, GCE A and AS levels, Entry Level Qualifications, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
- CCEA also offers a range of Awards and Certificates in Education, Training and Skills (ACETS) targeted at learners who want to get
the knowledge, understanding and skills needed
to hit the ground running in the world of work.
