Mr Bird, Deputy Head at Robert Shaw Primary, Nottingham, with Progressive Sports managing director Adam Holland and apprentice Charlotte, who delivers coaching over four days a week at the school
A successful sports coaching company that offers Glow in the Dark Dodgeball and Zorb Football is set to offer its services to schools in Nottingham.
Progressive Sports in the East Midlands has, for the past five years, been working mainly with primary schools in nearby Derby.
But, due to an expanding team and after seeing a demand for its services in Nottingham, managing director Adam Holland has started taking bookings from schools in the area who are interested in bringing Progressive Sports into school to provide curricular activities, holiday clubs and teacher training sessions.
He said: “PE has moved on so much in the past few years; sport can help with general wellbeing, communication and anger management. As long as that activity is engaging and varied, plus as inclusive as possible then it is of great benefit to everyone involved.
“We work with 30 schools in Derby and Derbyshire, plus Robert Shaw Primary, Bramcote Hills, Southwold Primary and Seeley Primary in Nottingham, who have seen first-hand the positive impact that physical education can have on children.
“We incorporate English and Maths into our sessions in a fun way and whilst I’m all in favour of lifelong learning, I do believe that the creative arts and sport are also important in a child’s development.”
The latest initiative from Progressive Sports is the delivery of Maths on the Move; an award-winning programme that uses the concept of physically active learning to enhance children’s confidence and attainment in maths.
Groups of up to 10 are then given tasks to do – examples include a number trail around school that helps them improve their multiplication skills – in the school environment.
Adam, who has been shortlisted for a business leadership award, said: “Maths on the Move is a brilliant programme that promises to be a huge hit with the schools we work with.
“Studies found that those who took part in Maths on the Move became 83% more confident in maths, which is great news. The fun programme covers all learning outcomes of the maths curriculum for KS1 and KS2 pupils and is suitable for all abilities.
“It can be tailored to suit the individual requirements of the school, can be used as an intervention programme and also to help those who need a little more stimulation.
“It complements the offering we currently have on offer – the likes of Glow in the Dark Dodgeball and Zorb Football – which help to establish and sustain a higher standard of physical education in school.”
Adam is encouraging schools to make the most of their PE and Sports Premium funding; a pot of £320m delivered to schools in 2022 and 2023 to give more children access to high quality PE lessons and sporting opportunities, supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing.
A further £11m has also been set aside by the Government to support the continuation of the School Games programme to give particularly passionate and talented young people the opportunity to participate in competitive sport.
He said: “The funding will help schools to prioritise physical activities, sport and physical education.”
