Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:175. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours of physical activity included in the primary level school curriculum. [51050/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 5 December 2018
Ceisteanna (175)
Freagraí scríofa
Physical Education (PE) is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, it is one of seven curriculum areas within the Primary School Curriculum. A minimum of one hour of PE per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. According to the 2015 Lifeskills survey, published 21 July 2017, 94% of primary schools are allocating at least one hour per week to physical activity. 82% of schools reported that their school also participates in physical activities or sporting competitions outside of school time.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), which is the body designated by this Department to assess and implement curriculum change is currently carrying out a review of the overall Primary Curriculum Structure and Time. Future development work on PE at primary will take place as part of this ongoing review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum. As part of this work, the NCCA is engaging widely with stakeholders in education and other interested individuals and groups. This includes working directly with schools from across the country on their priorities and needs for a redeveloped primary curriculum. Another strand of work involves drawing on an extensive body of research published in a series of short papers on the NCCA website - NCCA.ie
Building on all of this and informed by the findings from the 2017 consultation on curriculum structure and time, the NCCA will publish a draft overview of a redeveloped primary curriculum in autumn 2019. This draft will be the basis for an extensive consultation which will determine the overall shape and direction of a redeveloped curriculum.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) offers a comprehensive programme of support in PE to all teachers at primary level and to post primary teachers. PDST has developed a resource to support teachers in developing physically literate children through the lens of Fundamental Movement Skills. This resource, entitled Move Well, Move Often, has been designed to complement the teaching of the Irish Primary School Physical Education Curriculum and aims to provide a range of tools to support the teacher in teaching fundamental movement skills throughout the primary school.
The PDST offer a series of PE evening workshops annually. This year we will have an Introduction to Physical Literacy as well as Gymnastics, Dance and Playground games, through the lens of Physical Literacy. This aims to embed the Fundamental Movement Skills, not only in PE classes, but also through to the child’s free play.