Children at Arlecdon Primary School have taken part in a week of fun sporting activities. The annual week of events is organised by the school to allow the children to experience a different variety of sports not offered on the regular PE curriculum and to develop their skills year on year. The children, ranging from two to eleven years old, took part in a range of activities including; canoeing, kayaking, ghyll scrambling, high ropes, cycling and trips to Rookery Woods and a Forest School.
Jasmine Jolliffe, teacher at Arlecdon Primary School said:
“Sports week is an annual event that I started several years ago. Initially, it was an idea to allow children to access sporting activities that they would not necessarily encounter in order to broaden their experiences. However, over the past couple of years, it has morphed into a progressive skills building week. All children take part in both a water-based and a climbing-based activity that allow them to build on skills year after year. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, last year was disrupted and this year’s activities have had to be slightly altered, but working with our external groups we have been able to cater for the continuation for the progression of skills. This year, all children in years 1-6 were able to experience canoeing for their water-based skills. For climbing, the younger children undertook indoor rock climbing, years 3/4 had a go at high ropes and years 5/6 went ghyll scrambling. The early years children also take part and this year were able to explore Rookery Woods as well as improve their biking skills at Watchtree Wheelers. We also incorporated our first Forest School adventures for all children in the school, to tie in with sports and healthy living.
All of the children thoroughly enjoy taking part and many challenge themselves to take on new and sometimes daunting tasks, but it is wonderful to see how they tackle these obstacles head on and emerge more confident than ever. This also feeds into how they approach potential problems in day to day life and gives them the courage to try new things, even when scared. It provides lifelong experiences and lessons and we are all looking forward to it again next year!”
Feedback from the children has been overwhelmingly positive including:
“I’ve got better at climbing, I didn’t want to get down.” – Emi (Yr1)
“I faced my fear of heights.” – Minnie (Yr4)
“Jumping off the corkscrew was awesome.” – Sydney (Yr 6)
“I improved in helping other people.” – James (Yr 5)
“I have improved in all my skills and activities from last time.” – Harry (Yr 6)
“It has improved my skills in all areas, it’s been awesome.” – Eoin (Yr 6
