Resources for Schools When Planning for a Safe Return to PE and School Sport

Planning for a Safe Return to Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA) in September

Schools are facing a mammoth task ensuring a safe return for the whole school in September.  Factoring in social distancing and cleaning of equipment between use by groups, bubbles and pods will be challenging. This is especially tricky from a PE, school sport and physical activity perspective.

Many schools are concerned about how they can safely run PE, lunch time and extra-curricular sport and physical activities. And some schools may even steer away from providing such activities. This would be a huge loss to children and young people in terms of supporting their physical, emotional and social development.

School sport through enrichment can be used to help settle ALL children and young people on return to school post COVID-19. It can provide opportunities for challenge, and connectedness and friendship. As well as giving young people support and a sense of belonging whilst having fun.

Guidance, Tools and Resources to Support Schools

Youth Sport Trust and Association for Physical Education (afPE) have produced some useful tools and resources for school leaders and teachers. The resources support the mental and physical wellbeing of young people and can be used when planning for a safe return to PE and school sport.

So whether you are looking for a crib sheet, or a more intensive guidance around planning, it’s worth reading and/or downloading the PDF’s below.

• Secondary Physical Education Response to COVID-19. Helping children recover from the consequences of lockdown and COVID-19 delivery ideas.
• School Sport and Enrichment Response to COVID
• Primary Physical Education Teaching Tips. Using Physical Education and Physical Activity as a tool to support pupils’ wellbeing.
• Primary (FS/KS1) Physical Education Response to COVID-19. Helping children with SEND recover from the consequences of lockdown and COVID-19 delivery ideas.
• The Safe Return of School Sport. A framework and planning tool.
• COVID-19 Interpreting the Government Guidance in a PESSPA Context. A practical self-review tool for risk assessment.
• COVID-19 Guidelines – Recommendations on the delivery of PESSPA. Prepared by Sport Birmingham in partnership with the afPE and Birmingham Public Health.

The resources above should also be used in line with Government and statutory guidance and are focused on the principles and practicalities of delivering PE and sport under current restrictions.

Youth Sport Trust have on their website a round up of guidance documents around a return to school and return to sport.

Please also see useful links below.

“At Active Devon we passionately believe that being active is important as ever. However, safety is paramount, and it is crucial that everyone follows current government guidance if leaving their home to exercise. See here for more Guidance on Being Active. And for further advice visit Get Active at Home and Get Active Outdoors. #StayActiveStaySafe.”