Activity: Football

Provider: Dartford District Schools FA
Duration: Whole academic year
Total cost: £1,875

Rationale

  • An annual affiliation with Dartford District FA/Dartford FC.
  • Provides the pupils at Milestone Academy an opportunity to learn basic football skills through weekly coaching sessions led by qualified football coaches.
  • Provides pupils with the opportunity to participate in district events and friendly matches against local schools.
  • Encourages participation from all pupils, including girls whose participation may be lower.

Justification

  • To increase participation in competitive sport.
  • For all pupils to be able to engage in regular physical activity.
  • To broaden the range of sports and activities that all pupils can experience. 
  • To forge links with a wider range of external sports clubs.

Impact on Pupils

  • Pupils developed their football skills through having weekly lessons with qualified football coaches.
  • Pupils further developed their gross motor skills.
  • Participation in friendly football matches with other local skills so developing their social and teamwork skills.
  • Opportunities to learn and understand about teamwork and how to follow rules fairly.
  • Supported pupil’s understanding of discipline.

Sustainability

Dartford District FA will be upskilling staff in basic football coaching skills. They will offer a training day where members of staff with an interest in sport can learn new skills. The trained staff will then lead football specific lunch time clubs within their part of the academy.

Activity: Gymnastics

Provider: Beaming Stars
Duration: Whole academic year
Total cost: £12,059

Rationale

  •  A team of qualified gymnastics coaches are able to deliver 7.5 hours of gymnastics sessions and specialist dance to classes in Early Years, Phase 1 and Phase 2.
  • These sessions provide the pupils with regular opportunities to improve their basic agility, balance and coordination, with professionally trained staff.
  • It provides pupils with a regular fun and engaging activity which is suited to their needs, allowing them to access activities they may have been unable to previously.
  • Provides opportunities to join a club out of school to encourage pupil participation.

Justification

  • The engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity.
  • To broaden the range of sports and activities that all pupils can experience. 
  • To support and involve the least active children.
  • To forge links with a wider range of external sports clubs.

Impact on Pupils

  • Development of  gymnastics and dance skills through having regular gymnastics sessions with qualified gymnastics coaches.
  • Further opportunities to develop their gross motor skills.
  • Ensured students in all curriculum pathways had access to regular PE to improve physical development. 
  • Allowed  pupils the opportunity to develop their fine motor skills especially for the least active children.
  • Allowed pupils the opportunity to improve their coordination, balance and basic agility by having regular sessions with qualified gymnastics coaches.
  • Allowed all pupils the opportunity to participate in gymnastics and dance sessions that are engaging and fun as well as being suitably differentiated for their specific needs.
  • Gave pupils opportunities to work individually and in differing group sizes and helps them develop the skills of working appropriately with others.

Sustainability

Beaming Stars are developing a programme which will see members of staff at the academy trained in basic gymnastics skills. Phase 1 and 2 teachers will be upskilled and improve their knowledge of PE enabling them to embed this in their practice and develop students’ agility, balance and coordination skills through increased PE hours during the curriculum. Beaming Stars also offers young people within the school a means to access a productive and healthy after school activity.

Nihola Flex Wheelchair Bicycle

Provider: GetCycling.org.uk
Total cost: £3,566
Duration: Whole academic year

Rationale

  • The Nihola Flex is designed for an adult to ride with a passenger in a wheelchair on the front platform. The rear rider has full control of the steering and brakes. Made in Denmark, this is a quality machine – it is built to last.
    • The wheelchair ramp is built into the frame and is controlled by two gas dampers. The wheelchair itself is easily secured with ‘quick-adapters’ – a system of wheelchair retention widely used in minibuses.
    • The Flex also has a low-step frame (42 cm) which makes for easy mounting and dismounting for the rear rider, and our customers love the way the ramp makes it easy for the wheelchair to roll on and off.
    • Steer-from-the-rear tandem cycles allow the front rider to enjoy a view of the road ahead and feel more involved in the ride.

Justification

  • Lack of adequate PE provision for PMLD classes.
    • To offer an extra way to get students in PMLD classes outdoors to increase PE hours during curriculum time.
    • To provide an engaging and sensory experience for young people within PMLD some of which would not have experienced before.
    • To allow more scope for PMLD classes to partake in the Daily Mile initiative which is running throughout the school.

Impact on Pupils

  • More PE time per week for individuals using the adapted bicycle.
    • An increase in PMLD students engaging in PE related activities.
    • An improvement in well being with an exciting new activity involved within the daily curriculum. 

Sustainability

Young people in PMLD classes will be able to enjoy using this for the foreseeable future.