Baildon C of E, Low Active/ Inclusion Group

Overview

As part of our ongoing partnership with Baildon Church of England Primary School, we received a small amount of funding to subsidise curriculum-time delivery focused on increasing activity levels among targeted pupils.

This initiative aimed to support children who were eligible for Pupil Premium, had an EHCP, or were identified by the school as low-active. The core goal was to develop a love of movement and physical activity, building confidence and physical literacy through engaging, inclusive games designed to promote enjoyment, development, and belonging.

Beyond physical engagement, the programme also aimed to have a holistic impact — improving behaviour, attendance, and overall school experience for participating pupils.

Implementation

Delivery took place across four 30-minute sessions per week, with each Key Stage 2 class attending one of the sessions.
Children were carefully selected and invited by Jake Shepherd (Head of PE) to ensure those most in need of support were able to benefit from the programme.

The sessions were planned and delivered by our lead coach, Emma Kershaw, supported by our award-winning Mixed Ability Coach, Ahsan Sakhander.

Emma reflected on the experience:

“These sessions were a pleasure to plan and deliver. The focus was on creating an enjoyable environment for children who might shy away from full-class PE lessons. Each week, we adapted the plans based on the needs and feedback of the children to ensure every participant was engaged and successful.”

Ahsan added:

“These sessions were great fun. It felt amazing to be a role model for children who reminded me of what I was like when I was at school.”

Impact

Over the 18-week programme, we observed remarkable progress in both confidence and engagement among pupils.

Jake Shepherd (Head of PE) shared:

“The feedback from class teachers has been fantastic. Many of the children who took part are now engaging more confidently in whole-class PE lessons, and some have even shown interest in representing the school in external fixtures — something they hadn’t considered before.”

Jake Duxbury, Learning and Development Manager, who co-developed this model with the school, added:

“Emma’s delivery has been exemplary — she continuously adapted sessions to meet the needs of each group, helping the children develop a genuine love of being active. One student told me that taking part in this project was the best part of his week. The progress we’ve seen has exceeded all expectations, and it’s been a real joy to witness.”

Summary

The Low Activity Sessions at Baildon C of E have proven that with targeted support, inclusive planning, and passionate delivery, every child can find joy and confidence in movement. The programme not only improved pupils’ physical literacy but also enhanced their overall engagement, wellbeing, and sense of belonging within school life.