Creating a positive environment in Physical Education is essential for promoting the well-being and development of children and young people.
We know that, “positive experiences at an early age help build the foundations for an active life” (Sport England, Uniting the movement 2021). This is a privilege and responsibility that should not be taken lightly as we can have as much of a negative impact on learning without even realising. Thankfully, environments aren’t permanent, and adjustments can be made if needed to realign focus and re-establish a positive atmosphere. There are many key approaches that can contribute to a great environment but the 5 that we will delve into within this blog are as follows;
- Inclusive Practices
- Varied and enjoyable activities
- Choice and voice
- Positive Reinforcement
- Safe and Supportive space
Having experience of working in both Primary and Secondary schools, the ways in which we create positive environments remains the same. The differences of course being, the language and activity/challenge being age and stage appropriate to meet our lesson objectives. We should strive to provide opportunities for all students to participate actively, regardless of their ability or background. Inclusive practices involve adapting activities e.g. STEP principle (Youth Sport Trust, 2002). When PE environments are great, often the challenges set within lessons are as well. Appropriate challenge and managing difference might mean different things to different people. But the best environments that I have been involved in have included success, adversity and the opportunity to take risks. Whether that be in competition or collaboration within friendship groups, promoting positive peer interactions and highlighting empathy, can help create an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported.
Using positive reinforcement techniques can significantly enhance the PE experience. Praising effort, progress, and improvement rather than solely focusing on outcomes and performance can boost motivation and self-esteem. Not only have I found that this helps to build rapport with the students but by acknowledging and celebrating students' achievements, this can be a great foundation to help foster positive attitudes towards physical activity thus encouraging lifelong participation. Creating a safe and supportive environment is paramount in PE and helps promote physical and emotional safety. By establishing clear rules and guidelines for behaviour, a respectful atmosphere can be maintained. The use of stickers or certificates in a Primary setting especially, can be helpful to reinforce behaviour but also to develop the students holistically and highlight values that have been shown throughout the lesson e.g. showing leadership, motiving others, resilience.
By offering a wide range of activities that cater to diverse interests and abilities is important. In past experiences, when some of my classes knew they had a 6-week block of football coming up, often this was greeted with negativity with only a handful who couldn’t wait to get started. But by changing the language (football to invasion games) and giving choice and voice to students, I found that this sense of autonomy was empowering and motivational. This included selecting own activities, equipment, setting personal goals or leadership responsibilities. Allowing them to have input in class planning and decision-making can enhance their engagement and ownership of the learning process. Curriculums can be adapted and developed in line with school values and units of work devised to truly nurture physical literacy for all. It might also be worth considering incorporating new and innovative approaches, such as a games-based approach, gamification, and using technology if possible.
As physical educators, we need to embrace the power of PE and ensure that we fulfil its full potential for every child. PE possesses the ability to positively transform lives, instilling a lifelong commitment to physical activity and resilience (Sullivan, 2021). It equips students with valuable skills to navigate various real-world scenarios, preparing them for life beyond the confines of school. Being able to foster a positive environment to teach meaningful PE is the future of our subject.
For more tips and information on creating a positive PE environment, follow the link below to complete our free online PE CPD course:
https://learn.englandfootball.com/courses/PHYSICAL-EDUCATION/online-pe-cpd-for-teachers
Further reading: https://www.unesco.org/en/sport-and-anti-doping/international-charter-sport