Neighbourhood Services

Leisure Development Services

Dance Motivators
Health and Activity Motivators
Play Motivators
Sports Motivators

DANCE MOTIVATOR

The dance element of the Activity Motivation Initiative provides each primary school with specialist dance tuition throughout the year within a flexible curricular framework.

East Ayrshire Council’s Dance Motivator visits the school for a period of 4 weeks. The sessions are offered to primaries 4, 5, 6, or 7 and last approximately one hour and consist of tuition in dance using current music and moves! This ensures the development of new skills within an accessible framework. There is plenty of room for creativity for all budding East Ayrshire choreographers! This helps build confidence and communication skills and will complement and reinforce the 5 – 14 Guidelines.

As a result of the 4 weeks of specialist training there is a chance to participate along with other primary schools in an informal performance to celebrate their achievements; thereby putting in to practice the new skills learned creating an overall sense of achievement.

For further information in relation to the dance element of the Activity Motivation Initiative or dance in general please contact Dance Motivator

HEALTH AND ACTIVITY MOTIVATORS

Based within the Recreation Partnership Project, the Health and Activity Motivators deliver the health element of the Activity Motivation Intiative.

Each academic year, all primary schools within East Ayrshire have the opportunity to access a specialist Health and Activity Motivator to work with two of the following three primary stages; P3/P4/P5. Each of the primary stages selected receives the following three sessions which are delivered over three consecutive weeks;

• Session one - Healthy Eating (activity based session)
• Session two - Physical Activity (activity based session)
• Session three - Lifestyle Choices (classroom based session)

All of the sessions delivered by the Health andActivity Motivators are planned specifically to meet the needs of each individual school and in line with the five to fourteen Social, Personal and Health Education Guidelines. By participating in the sessions it is anticipated that pupils will gain further knowledge, understanding and awareness of the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle at a young age. Below are some examples of the key messages which are communicated to pupils participating in the sessions.

What I learned from the Health and Activity Motivators...

• I should eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day
• I should drink at least eight glasses of water every day
• One can of fizzy juice has seven teaspoonfuls of sugar
• I should be active seven days a week
• I should be active at least sixty minutes every day
• Calcium gives us strong teeth and bones
• Carbohydrate foods give us energy
• The quadricep muscle is in the front of your upper leg
• The bicep muscle is in the upper arm
• Protein foods build and repair muscles
• T he femur is the longest bone in your body

For further information in relation to the health element of the Activity Motivation Initiative please contact Health and Activity Motivators

PLAY MOTIVATORS

The Top Play programme focuses primarily on developing essential physical skills that children require at the infant stage. The activities offered are safe, age appropriate and fun. These sessions provide opportunities for skipping, hopping, running and jumping as well as developing catching and throwing skills. An element of drama and movement is also incorporated to assist with the development of individual physical ability. This practical programme, which links with the Borders and 5 - 14 guidelines, has a flexible approach which allows for differentiation within each session.

A variety of teaching resources are provided which complements existing Top Play materials.

The Positive Play course comprises of two main elements. The first element introduces techniques to encourage positive social interaction within the playground environment. The second focuses on the benefits of physical activity and includes practical demonstrations of relevant games.

The promotion of general well being, co-operative working, positive self image, better behaviour and life choices are all key factors within this programme.

Resources will be provided to support new or existing playground initiatives.

For further information in relation to the Top Play / Positive Play element of the Activity Motivation Initiative or primary school play in general, please contact Play Motivators

SPORTS MOTIVATORS

The sport element of the Activity Motivation Initiative offers each primary school the opportunity to access a specialist Sports Motivator for a 4 week period. During this period, the Sports Motivator delivers a progressive programme of sports coaching sessions to a selected primary stage (P4 – P7). All sessions are approximately one hour in duration and complement the existing Borders Guidelines for Physical Education and the national TOP Play/TOP Sport programme.

Following the 4 hour coaching course, all young people from the Learning Partnership come together for a Fun Sports Festival offering the opportunity to participate in a friendly competition and demonstrate the new sports skills they have learned. Transport is provided for each school to attend the festival which will be held in the Learning Partnership’s secondary school, thus offering an introduction to the secondary school itself and, more specifically, the Physical Education Department.

In order for the Fun Festival to take place it is essential that all schools in a Learning Partnership select the same sport. In situations where a primary school decides to choose a different sport from the others in the Learning Partnership, it will not be possible to organise a festival and the participants would therefore miss out on this element of the programme.

There are 4 team sports to choose from, each sport has been allocated to a primary stage as outlined below:-

P4 – Netball
P5 – Rugby
P6 – Hockey
P7 – Basketball

The above activities are delivered during terms 1 and 3 of the school year. In term 2, the annual East Ayrshire Primary School Sports Hall Athletics Championships take place. All 46 primary schools are invited to participate in the Championships which will involve the primary 7 team in one local heat in which they attempt to win a place in the grand final which is held in the Galleon Centre prior to the Easter holiday.

For further information in relation to the sport element of the Activity Motivation Initiative or primary school sport in general, please contact Sports Motivators