Keeping Fit and Healthy

We believe that a healthy heart leads to a healthy mind, which is why we value health and well being for everyone who attends BWIS.

 

A few years ago, we looked at what having a 'lifelong love of sport' really meant to our school. The government gave extra funding to create this and we really had to think what this would look like for our learners. In class we taught our learning values; independence, interdependence, creativity, spirituality, thinking and emotional intelligence. Our school ethos values promoted Belonging, Aspiration, Determination, Goodness, Excellence and Respect. We felt a Lifelong Love of Sport would encompass both our learning and our ethos.

 

We looked at team games as our way in. Previously team games happened in certain terms. Yet many of our children said that team games was the one thing they enjoyed the most during our special sports week. We decided to take this further. All our staff were skilled up by working alongside an Advanced Skills Teacher from Hampshire. We looked at what sport would suit our children; where could we build resilience, how could we develop respect and sportsmanship?

 

Following initial training, our staff continue to build on the strengths each year. Children encourage each other to do well. They help when somebody needs help. They recognise that everybody has different strengths and working as a team is essential to team sports.

 

The knock on effect was immediate. Children gained confidence. They changed the way they played during their breaks, recognising each other's strengths. It has been extremely successful, and many of our children attend teams and activities outside classes.

In addition to our games curriculum in school, all our children have the opportunity to learn PE skills through Dance and Gymnastics. We teach swimming in Year 2 in the BWJS pool. During Teacher PPA sessions there are opportunities for children to try new sports with specialist coaches. Every playtime there isa range of ' Huff and Puff' fun sports equipment for children to play with. One lunchtime per week, the  sport is led by specialist coaches encouraging all children to try their best. Some children access yoga, through a support program. We also provide a range of after school and before school clubs, run by outside specialists, for which there is a small charge. These include Football, Gymnastics.Dance, Yoga and Taekwondo..

We understand that a healthy mind is important at school and beyond. We teach children how to keep themselves safe in life and online. Children know who can help them and who they can talk to if they need to. We are a 'THRIVE' school and use strategies to help children to deal with anxiety about their world.

Health eating is encouraged throughout our school. Taster menus are provided by our cook whenever there is a menu change, encouraging children to try new dishes. Being healthy is taught throughout our curriculum, with a visit from 'Heart Start' to our Year 1 during the Autumn Term to show children essential life saving skills.