An introduction to Positive Play
Throughout the partnership we are developing positive play in our primary schools during lunchtimes to enhance the informal learning curriculum of all pupils. The older pupils in the schools (Year 5 or 6's) are trained by the School Sports Coordinators (SSCo's) to lead and take charge of playground games with the supervision of the lunchtime supervisors. The pupils are taught the necessary skills to organise the equipment, teach the games to other pupils, to take charge of the games and play them in a fun but safe way and also to monitor and collect all equipment at the end of the lunchtime. They are trained to become Young Leaders and role models for the younger pupils in the school to look up to and are given a great deal of responsibility.

Certificates are available for teachers to download and print here from the secure staff area

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Positive Play set up in schools
The SSCo's have undertaken Positive Play training and are now official licensed trainers of the scheme. Their role is to train the lunchtime supervisors, train the young leaders, order and help set up the equipment, organise the playground into appropriate zones for the school, regularly monitor the work being undertaken in schools and to support schools in which ever way needed (maybe further training, help with assemblies, pupil recruitment etc).

Most schools in the partnership now have Positive Play in one form or another. It is proving to be a really great success as initial feedback suggests that pupils are enjoying leading and their new responsibilities, younger children are playing games and socialising more with each other and lunchtime supervisors have more time to focus on other areas rather than monitor equipment and set up games with the children. Playgrounds are now buzzing with different activities and new games which certainly help SSCo's to work towards their Government targets to increase activity in schools and provide more leadership opportunities.

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Leadership through Positive Play: The Sports Leaders UK Young Leaders Award
All pupils are rewarded for the time and efforts they put into their leadership training and Positive Play through a standard certificate presentation. However, there is plenty of scope to develop this as Sports Leaders UK have introduced a new leadership qualification which specifically focuses on the younger primary leader. The Young Leader Award encourages children of primary school age to 'take an early lead' and is suitable for pupils aged between 9 and 13 years. The award is practical and fun and teaches leadership through games and activities. It aims to develop confidence, self esteem, knowledge and personality of candidates. All this can help support lunchtime supervisors to plan, organise and run activities within school such as playground games at lunchtime. Therefore the award acts as an additional support and reward for the work already being undertaken by the Positive Play scheme.

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Informal Curriculum
Each school, its grounds and its playground area are all unique. The size and type of school grounds can vary enormously. They are however a unique and valuable asset and if used wisely, can be developed into positive playing environments.

The informal curriculum is a term used to denote the break times and lunch times of the pupils in the school. As much as 24% of a child's school day is spent in the school grounds and used as play. We need to make sure that pupils enjoy themselves, as they need informal time out of the classroom to socialise and relax, however we also need to provide positive learning experiences during that time.

Play is an important part of a child's life as it is a means of which they learn without being taught. It helps physical, social and cognitive development and teaches vital life skills such as tolerance, respect, cooperation and sharing. The role of the adult is a minimal one once Positive Play has been established, as the pupils can take a large amount of the responsibility. However the adult needs to provide a stimulating and safe environment in which the pupils can successful access the informal curriculum.

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Outline of the Young Leaders Award
The award can be adapted to suit the individual needs of the school and group. It takes approximately 6-10 hours of teaching time to complete. There is no requirement for those delivering the award to attend training however Partnership Development Managers (PDM's) and SSCo's are supporting their primary colleagues in their delivery of this award.

Pupils who meet the criteria of the award and complete the necessary training gain the award. It is emphasised that this is not a performance-based activity but a leadership one and that candidates are assessed on their leadership ability and not their skill levels. The award is mainly taught through practical activities and is based on holistic approach so the Young Leaders 'learn by doing.' If they meet the requirements of the course to a satisfactory standard then they will be awarded the nationally recognised qualification: The Young Leaders Award.

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FUNdamentals of Movement
Fundamentals are a relatively new initiative, which stays in keeping with the government's PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy.

In keeping with the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, the activities at both multi-skill clubs and academies are non sport-specific but instead are based around the development of fundamental movements and sport skills.

The LTAD model progresses through a series of stages beginning with the fundamentals stage which is based upon the building of core skills which underpin the general skills used in many sports. The establishment of good movement skills at a young age, and an understanding of how to control the body are key principles of LTAD.

• Development of Agility, Balance and Co-ordination
• Development of core skills which underpin most sports and activities e.g. running, jumping, leaping, bounding, twisting, turning

• Development of generic Sports Skills, e.g. throwing, catching, striking, kicking.
• Basic tactics - invasion, striking/fielding, net/wall games.

What Sports Coach UK say....
"The importance of developing FUNdamental movement skills (eg. running, jumping, throwing, catching, striking, and kicking) has been closely associated with increased positive movement experiences, reduced drop out from youth sport and consequently an affinity towards lifelong participation.

The wider implications are the impact this can have on physical and mental health.

It has long been thought that the development of skills used in sport and dance involves the modification and combination of more basic fundamental movement abilities into goal directed movements of increasing complexity.

The principles that underpin both generic and sport-specific movement skills can be referred to as the FUNdamentals of Movement, and this term refers to the ABCs of movement - Agility, Balance, Coordination and speed."

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Step Into Sport
This is a scheme to encourage young people to develop leadership and volunteering skills. It was launched in Salisbury and West Wiltshire in April 2004 and has now been extended to encompass all 6th form Schools in Wiltshire.

The Step into Sport (SIS) which runs over a 12 month period, allows volunteers from Schools and 6th form colleges to experience a range of job roles within the community organisations.

SIS is a joint venture run by three organisations Sport England, the Youth Sport Trust (YST) and the British Sport Trust (BST )with funding received from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Home Office.

The Scheme is operated through the Sports Colleges, which in Salisbury is St. Edmunds Girls' School. Numbers in the county have risen from 36 people being placed t over 100

One of the highlights of the course for the Young people is the annual one-day conference

Anybody aged 16 - 19 interested in volunteering or if a club and would to like to know how SIS can benefit your Club should contact the Step into Sport Manager - Simon Woodhouse - Phone: 07717 666939

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Wake 'n Shake - Overview pioneered by Salisbury Sports Partnership
The Wake 'n Shake Project is a venture by St. Edmund's Sports College to provide school children across the United Kingdom with 20 minutes of physical activity each morning, before the start of the school day. The pre-school activity is in addition to the schools' normal PE lessons, so that every child in the district achieves the Government entitlement of 2 hours high quality PE and sport each week. The Sports College has also researched the effects of regular early morning exercise on young people's behaviour, concentration and attainment.

Wake 'n Shake was officially launched in Salisbury in January 2003 and is now operating across the Partnership and countrywide. The Sports College employs a Fitness Consultant to lead a six week Wake 'n Shake "Start-Up" course in schools, which includes staff training and solving the logistical issues of running the activities. Activities will range from simple classroom stretches to a run around the school. Each school also receives a British Heart Foundation Primary School Active Pack as well as a folder of good ideas for user-friendly exercises.

Winterslow Primary School, the first primary school to participate in and pilot the Wake 'n Shake Programme, conducted an evaluation on the effects of Wake 'n Shake on pupils' learning and behaviour. The results were staggering! Class teachers recorded large improvements in targeted pupils' behaviour and concentration in lessons throughout the school day, since the Wake 'n Shake Programme started.

Of significant interest is the report on pupils spelling and reading ages. Before the Wake 'n Shake Programme was implemented in the school, data on pupils' spelling and reading ages for the previous 2 years were used as benchmark trends in pupils' improvement. After 3 months of regular early morning activity, the pupils were re-assessed in these areas. The results indicated that in the first 3 months of Wake 'n Shake, pupils' reading ages increased on average by 13 months. In one particular child, an increase in reading age of 52 months was recorded in this period. Pupils' spelling ages increased on average by 12 months in the 3 month period.

This data has proved to be very powerful in terms of measuring the impact of physical activity on young people. Due to the large national interest from schools and the media, Wake 'n Shake is now an international programme, adopted by thousands of schools in the United Kingdom and Singapore! The project is now endorsed by the Youth Sport Trust and is widely regarded as a successful product to improve young people's fitness as well as academic achievements.

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Young Ambassadors
This is a nationwide scheme which is set to inspire people round the Country to get involved in Sport and London 2012.
The young ambassadors are charged with encouraging others to become involved in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and to take sport, exercise and healthy eating.

They take part in workshops with Olympic and Paralympic medallists to gain the skills and knowledge needed to fulfil their role.

Alice Judd, a pupil at South Wilts Grammar School and Oliver Hill who is a pupil at Salisbury High are the two young ambassadors for the Salisbury Sports Partnership.

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