To think 'jumping' is a bit naff for a year 2 PE lesson

[orangechairs]

My DD had PE today. She's 6 and in year 2. Her PE lesson was jumping. Doing a quarter turn, half a turn and a full turn jump. Then they jumped in pairs. She said that's all they did for the full PE lesson. They did some jumping to music, but mostly the teacher telling them what jump to do. Some on their own and some in pairs.

I asked one of the other parents and her child also said the same, so I think it's correct. I also think it's pretty reflective of their general PE lessons. (My 4 year old says they just run around outside during his PE lesson, which is what they basically do most of the time in reception anyway).

Is this what a year 2 PE lesson is? It just seems a bit basic to me. I thought they'd be learning how to play a sport in year 2, or inside doing some more movement type classes. I remember at infant school we climbed up the walls, ran along benches, climbed ropes and jumped over the vault in PE lessons, like a mini obstacle course. Or we were learning actual sports.

Please help me and share what your year 2 child does in a PE lesson!

This is state school BTW. But I am interested to hear what all year 2 PE lessons are like, state and private.

YABU - jumping is a perfectly normal PE lesson for year 2

YANBU - jumping is not a good PE lesson for year 2.

Dd6 does tries something different each week they have tried gymnastics, rounders, dance, an other games. Dd loves PE and would be furious if all they done is jump.

@Bananabrush The reason a higher proportion of Olympians come from private schools is more down to the extra-curricular opportunities that come from having financially stable and generally interested parents. I teach in a state primary and we endeavour to give pupils as many opportunities and experiences of different sports as possible, but curricular PE, even with coaches and smaller classes on offer in private schools is never going to be enough. So for example an external tennis coach was delivering a half term’s worth of lessons to my Year 2 class. He spoke to me about how one boy in particular really stood out as having a natural knack in the sport, and he gave me information and leaflets about local tennis clubs. This was a deprived area, and although I sung the boy’s praises and passed on the information to his Mum, she didn’t take him- be it financial constraints, childcare of other kids in the family, or just a general lack of interest. Parents of a private school pupil approached in a similar way would be more likely to nurture any natural talent spotted, take the kid to a club, buy them the equipment, practice with them at home. Of course there are exceptions but that’s the usual situation.

@WheelieBinPrincess

You’re right, at that age they should be bussed to the local Olympic sized swimming pool and coached in freestyle diving.

What you’ve described is totally fine for a six year old PE session. Is your daughter in an independent school by any chance…?

No she's in a state school, which I clearly stated in my OP

@ChittyChittyBoomBoom

Ks1 teacher here…it’s absolutely a standard lesson for y2 children. PE in ks1 mainly focuses on fundamental skills, with actual games and rules being taught in ks2.

It’s not ‘just’ jumping, of course. Toddlers can do that! But they will be taught to do standing jumps, running jumps and jumping from a height. This involves keeping knees soft for a safe landing and also the correct transfer of weight. They will then work on improving their technique and take these skills into ks2 when they play games.

Ok this is great info, thank you!! Sounds my like my DD had a good lesson then.

Our school does a daily mile where they all run laps of a track which also sounds a bit naff.

@unknownstory

Look up physical literacy. If kids don't master the basics before age 7, they are much more likely to never master a sport. Huge numbers of 6 year olds can't jump. They can't get their feet off the floor. Huge numbers can't catch a ball so can never master netball or similar later. Huge numbers can't walk a mile a day. High % of Yr4-6 kids can't pull them selves out of a swimming pool. Without mastering the basics you are hindered for life. So yes it's fine if that's what's needed

Thanks for this perspective, that's really interesting and not something I was aware of. As a fairly sporty (but definitely 'average ability') family we do quite a lot of physical activities such as park run and family boot camps (outdoor exercise in the park). So my kids are used to a lot of physical Movement. I understand others might not be so thank you.

Yabu sounds like a normal fun pe lesson at that age. Jumping is healthy keeps them active, it's teaching listening skills and coordination and team work. Don't see a problem at all.

@Hortonhearsadoctorwho

In my experience over multiple state schools that age group is usually multi sports. So different sports each week to work on working as a team, catching and throwing skills, balance skills etc jumping sounds a bit odd.

Yep, multi sports for my Y2 (state). Thus week was basketball.

If children don't learn basic moves how can they play sports. Have you seen rugby players jump for a ball or basketball players jump to score? You would be surprised at how many children who cannot jump/ hop etc. Children don't run around outside as much as they used to so specific teaching is needed.
You must be closely monitoring your child's day if you know what happens in PE each time. My 3 dc were just happy to be moving and doing something different. I never had any idea of what they did unless the came home full of enthusiasm. That level of suspicion of your child's teacher is not good..just trust them .

Maybe look up the content of the PE curriculum for that age . I am in lreland so can't comment on that .

Jumping can encompass many different skills and activities. At Year 2 you can't teach them to play a sport in one lesson. You have to build up lots of different skills in order for them to be able to play a particular sport so this may well have been one of many lessons to help them learn these skills.

@orangechairs they might be used to physical activity which is great. However, can they do it accurately,safely,properly? In a controlled way? Correct start and landing position?

@womaninatightspot

Our school does a daily mile where they all run laps of a track which also sounds a bit naff.

bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1049-z

Jumping, was usually incorporated with other types of movements in PE lessons, it seems a lazy way to go about teaching PE.

Yup. Entirely normal and appropriate. Lots of children struggle with gross motor skills and don't get given any physical exercise at home. Shocking but true. Learning these skills are key foundations for what comes next. If this is easy for your child then they are lucky and can help others master the skills.

@1forAll74 - hardly lazy for a teacher to be following the national curriculum for PE is it?

@junebirthdaygirl

If children don't learn basic moves how can they play sports. Have you seen rugby players jump for a ball or basketball players jump to score? You would be surprised at how many children who cannot jump/ hop etc. Children don't run around outside as much as they used to so specific teaching is needed. You must be closely monitoring your child's day if you know what happens in PE each time. My 3 dc were just happy to be moving and doing something different. I never had any idea of what they did unless the came home full of enthusiasm. That level of suspicion of your child's teacher is not good..just trust them . Maybe look up the content of the PE curriculum for that age . I am in lreland so can't comment on that .

I'm not 'closely monitoring', I asked her how her day was and she replied that it was good, she did lots of jumping in her PE lesson.

I'm not suspicious of the teacher. Strange conclusion to make. I think the vast majority of teachers are wonderful and saints!

Dd spent PE balancing for long periods on alternate feet while the teacher played plinky plonky music the other week.

Shes year 3.

@womaninatightspot

Our school does a daily mile where they all run laps of a track which also sounds a bit naff.

I think that sounds really good actually it ingrains the habit into the DC and probably helps the adults out as well!

YABU

I think you’re underestimating how much a lot of Year 2 children need to practice jumping. Your daughter may find this easy (does she do gymnastics by any chance? There’s a noticeable difference at this age in the ones that do) but a lot of 6 year olds still struggle with balance/co-ordination. Also a lot of pairwork is really just teaching them teamwork, which again a lot of them need to practice!

@womaninatightspot

Our school does a daily mile where they all run laps of a track which also sounds a bit naff.

Don't all schools Do this? I think they have to

I want jumping lessons. Not kidding.
I was physically incompetent as a child, I'm fine at the gym but would love to learn those basics.

YABU I used to teach Year 2 and learning how to do a variety of different jumps is part of the curriculum.

The school will probably deliver units of different foci throughout the year e.g. gymnastics, including jumping. Lesson One - quality jumping, Lesson Two - jumping in a sequence, Lesson Three - jumping including a sequence and maybe using a bench etc. There will also be a games unit and an athletics unit. The skill involved is moving with control.

@Annonnimoouse42

I can honestly say I never gave a shit what DC did for PE.

Not just me then

It sounds like your school is following an explicit programme of physical literacy skills such as Real PE- see jasmineactive.com/solutions/real-pe
The idea is to teach all children fundamental movement skills that they can use across a range of sports. A jump can be used in gymnastics, jumping to shoot or block in basketball, parkour, climbing, an overhead volley in tennis, etc. The skill is jumping. The applications are endless.
The children are taught the skill and how to control it in a range of situations including fun games.

As other posters have said, these are the building blocks for all sports and a significant number of children are lacking these regardless of lockdowns.
Hopefully within the lesson, children will have had a range of jumping challenges that have allowed everyone to have some success and provided challenge for others. I’m sure if you ask your daughter, you will find that some children really struggled with some of the movements while others found it easy and the teacher stepped it up a gear adding extra challenges.