Primary school - is dance an appropriate substitute for P.E? I think not.....

[Nixz]

I have just took DD's P.E kit out of her school bag and she has not worn it AGAIN! It has been in her bag for 2 weeks. I ask her if she has done P.E and she replies "No, well, we did dance" and she just took her shoes and socks off.
I was under the impression that primary school children should have 2 sessions of PE a week, surely its not fair that they have to miss out because the teacher decides not to do it! Im quite cross at this - kids love PE

In that case i would ask her teacher when they were going to do something else. I would also check that it was dance she'd only been doing twice a week since sept.

Nixz; sorry, it sounded from your OP as though your dd had had dance class for the last 2 weeks only rather than since the beginning of the school year.

(Private schools don't have to follow the National Curriculum)

I said the PE kit had been in her bag for 2 weeks. This is what made me stop and think about it.

PE's a croc, anyhow.

I think it should up to the parents and child to decide what to do.

I was so glad when I went to school in France and they didn't have that PE croc - more time to use the dance studio at the leisure centre after school instead.

Ours don't have a PE kit at all in reception, and have dance as one of their PE sessions. Never thought to query it tbh.

Fio - NO! That is so not what I was getting at. Just that state schools have got to do TWO sessions of PE and follow what is onthe curriculum. Private doesn't. Therefore DD only does ONE session of proper PE and then ONE session of ballet. As far as I am aware so far she hasn't done any other form of dance in the normal PE class.

I am so not looking for a fight or being anti state! Honestly, you are just reading more into what I put than there is there. I promoise!

I feel bad for her, she loves Gym and using the apparatus. My DD really needs to learn to do a forward roll, but hasnt had the chance. It would be great now the weather is nice if she could have a go at using a bat and ball, or practise running etc.
That was my point - im pretty cross at the teacher for not letting her have the chance to do these things. They only have about 7 weeks of term left.

we all know private schools are different

d'uh

PE in blocks is much better than the teacher thinking something up on the way there

4 weeks of dance
4 weeks of gym
4 weeks of hockey
4 weeks of cross country
4 weeks of polo
4 weeks of skiing

etc

WHy dont you ask the teacher?

And we go to Rainbows, swimming, away on walking and biking holidays and she has tried streetdance and Gym - so i DO give her a good variety at home.

PE stands for physical exercise
dance is physical exercise
that includes ballet

i am actually glad i got dance at school - it was hwere i learnt an important skill as we need to learn to dance etc for social situations like weddings

I think i will ask the teacher tbh, the summer term is usually athletics, running, long jump etc. DD would love that.

Dance also helps with balance, you'd be surprised how many humans can't stand on one leg for longer than a nano second.

I dont have a problem with dance.
I want my child to be able to have the chance to try a variety of activities though.

Well I am sure she will, if you speak to the teacher about it and voice your concerns.

Sorry Nixz - From the op it didn't look like she'd been doing it all year. Is she sure she has only done dance? If so then I'd certainly have a word as only doing one area of PE is as bad as only doing adding all year in Numeracy and leaving out taking away, multiplying etc.

Not all kids love PE. I bloody hated it. FWIW DD1's dance club at her school has been crucial in getting her physical confidence up.

Yes I think alot of the posts didn't realise (me for one) that dance was the only option since September.

nix, is she doing dance or dreaded Music and Movement?

ds(9) sometimes has dance in his pe lessons -they do different activities in 5-6 week blocks(unihockey, gym, athletics etc). Whereas dd (5) has a timetabled dance lesson which is really music and movement, in addition to pe and games. He changes for his , she doesn' t!

np, lol @ polo!

Sorry- haven't read all the posts but am and that anyone would think dance is not as physical as PE/traditional sports. It is vital that schools encourage dance (and, ideally something like yoga) so that children who are not athletic or do not have good ball skills have the chance to take part in a physical activity which they can actually do. Why should PE have to include competitive sports only?