Guest Helen Battelley is a world-renowned expert in physical activity in the Early Years. In this episode of The PE Huddle, Helen shares from her wealth of experience, and will inspire you to overhaul your provision. Helen’s enthusiasm for her work is infectious and her top tips will add creativity and fun to the learning in your school. Who is Helen Battelley?Helen is an Early Years PE and physical development specialist. As a consultant, trainer, author and speaker she is highly respected for her contribution to raising the profile of early years physical activity. She has been working as a dance and movement specialist for over 19 years and continues to work directly with children as a researcher for Birmingham City UniversityThe embodiment of her practice is to raise confidence and value in the areas of music, movement and physical activity. What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Helen: explains why PE, physical activity and physical development are so important in the Early Years (and Key Stage 1) and why an understanding of neuroscience is so valuable to Early Years educators.tells us why she believes that change needs to be made through a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down one.shares what she thinks are the key ingredients for a strong ethos towards PE, sport and physical activity in schools.discusses what the biggest challenges are that primary schools are facing at this time.

In episode 3 of The Primary PE Huddle, guests James Latham and Jonathan Smart from Excelsior Multi Academy Trust join hosts Dan and Paul to talk about their professional relationship and why it is key to the success of PE and Physical Activity in the Trust’s schools.Who is James Latham?James is PE Lead at Excelsior MAT. Alongside teaching and engaging children in regular activity, his role is to work with staff to increase their confidence, knowledge and skills in teaching PE & sport, and to raise the profile of PE and sport across the MAT.With a degree in Sports & Exercise Science and Business Management, James has been involved with young people in sport and education throughout his career. He holds several coaching badges and a Level 5 Certificate in Primary School Physical Education Specialism.James has also represented England as part of the England Lionhearts Rugby League and often uses this to inspire children work hard and strive for success.Who is Jonathan Smart? Jonathan was a Head Teacher for many years before becoming Deputy CEO at Excelsior MAT in 2018. Jonathan has many strings to his education bow. He is a former Ofsted inspector, a Lead Reviewer for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), President of Birmingham Branch of NAHT and is a Local Leader of Education.Jonathan believes that quality PE and Physical Activity in schools is essential and as a Senior Leader his support is instrumental in ensuring the success of James’ work. What’s covered in the podcast?Jonathan gives us an SLT viewpoint on the importance of PE and Physical Activity in schools.We discuss how to create a successful collaboration between a PE Lead and SLT.We share ideas on how to embed a positive ethos and culture towards PE and Physical Activity.

In episode 2, Dan and Paul sit down to chat with guest Ian Griffiths.Who is Ian Griffiths?Ian is a Deputy Head Teacher at a primary school in Birmingham. Having grown up doing a lot of sport, he chose to study for a Sports degree and earned coaching badges in cricket and athletics. After a stint of working as a cricket coach in schools, Ian decided to train as a teacher and with his passion for sport, was soon made PE subject leader in his school.Ian has been teaching for 15 years and has also worked with Early Years developments for Birmingham City Council, as well as supporting with the delivery of the Level 5 PE accreditation.  As a member of senior leadership, he still has a very active role in PE delivery and development within his school. He is in a position to ensure that physical activity is integrated into the curriculum, although he is of course aware of the challenges that this can entail. What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode we: ·       delve into Ian’s journey through sport and into teaching. ·       find out Ian’s thoughts on the power of physical activity in primary schools. ·       discuss how to ensure PE, sport and physical activity are at the heart of school life.·       get Ian’s top tips for embedding a top-down physically active ethos.

In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Primary PE Huddle, hosts Dan Hays and Andrew Stanton are joined by Dr Andy Daly-Smith, Children’s Physical Activity Researcher. Who is Dr Andy Daly-Smith?Dr Daly-Smith’s passion is supporting schools, teachers and children to embrace physical activity.His practice driven research focuses on the impact and implementation of physically active learning.Key themes within his work include physical activity across the segmented school-day, whole-school approaches to physical activity and the efficacy, effectiveness and implementation of physically active learning.As Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity and Behavioural Science at Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Dr Daly-Smith oversaw the physically active learning research project which featured the Aspire, Maths on the Move programme and evidenced the programme’s success in driving activity and improving maths attainment.Dr Daly-Smith is currently a  Reader in Healthy Childhood at the University of Bradford.What’s covered in the podcast?What we can learn from the research surrounding physical activity and learningThe barriers preventing physically active learning from taking placeHow to best utilise physically active learning in the curriculumThe tracking of physical activity at primary ageTeaching approaches and programmes which boost physical activityThe key ingredients to achieve whole school engagement in physical activityTips for practitioners who would like to embed Physically Active Learning in their primary school