Heron Olympians
Competition - Sporting events have been selected for attendance throughout the year based on previous years’ calendars to ensure good coverage across all year groups and variety of sports. Significant consideration was also given to the ability to staff the number of events selected.
Outdoor activities - Sportacus coaches are timetabled to lead Outdoor Adventurous Activity units in Years 1 to 4 throughout the year.
High-Altitude Athletes - EYFS
In Reception, parachute play naturally encourages team games, requiring all children to cooperate and communicate to achieve a shared outcome, such as making waves or creating a "mushroom." Furthermore, these dynamic activities significantly improve coordination and motor control as children practice synchronised lifting, lowering, and timing their movements. Finally, they learn to successfully negotiate space, becoming aware of their peers and moving safely within the group, which is a key step towards successful participation in future team sports and group activities.
Body Balance - KS1
This Year 1 activity involves locomotion across a low apparatus, specifically a low-level traverse along a bench acting as a beam. The child is executing a sequence of controlled weight transfers using a modified front support position to maintain dynamic balance on the narrow surface. This apparatus work is vital for developing upper body strength, core stability, and spatial awareness before progressing to higher-level balances or flight movements. The wider lesson was structured around various stations focusing on Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) like static shapes, controlled landings, and sequence linking.
Heart-Racing Herons - LKS2
This Year 4 lesson focused on aerobics, with pupils executing a large motor movement (differentiated jumping jack variations) to enhance cardiovascular endurance. The activity required coordination and timing as they followed the choreographed sequence set to music, helping to develop rhythm and spatial awareness. The lesson was highly effective for elevating the heart rate and improving aerobic capacity, and was framed by essential pulse-raising and cool-down protocols to ensure safe and progressive fitness development.
Counterbalance Kids Crew - UKS2
This Year 6 activity demonstrates Acrobatic Gymnastics, specifically a three-person group balance utilizing the principles of a counterbalance/support structure. The base pupil maintains a stable four-point support (table shape), the middle partner assumes a forward support while distributing weight, and the top partner demonstrates static balance by placing their weight primarily through the hips of the base. This exercise requires high levels of trust, communication, and core stability, with the children going on to use various apparatus to develop their agility, flight, and dynamic sequencing within routines.
