Evidence of policy implementation guidelines - Sport and Physical Activity Policy
The following information is indicative of the types of evidence a school may include demonstrating evidence of policy implementation monitoring.
Evidence needs to be a snapshot. E.g. do not upload a complete handbook just the cover and a contents page.
The following information regarding evidence of policy implementation (PDF 208KB) can be downloaded. Fact sheets can be found in a show-hide section below which provide basic information regarding the Sport and Physical Activity Policy.
All staff are shown how to access the policy on the NSW Department of Education intranet Sport and Physical Activity Policy - 2015. The links to the DET NSW Sports unit are embedded as a hyperlinks in this document.
The Principal meets with executive staff to ensure the review/development of the school developed procedures. To assist teachers in meeting sport policy requirements the School Sport Unit has developed 2 TPL courses for the development and review of sport and physical activity in their school. These are free of charge, NESA registered courses. For more information view the Meeting sport policy requirements section of the Online and school based professional learning page.
Awareness of the Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities is another area of importance. Staff need to be informed of their duty of care and their responsibility to meet all expected precautions as outlined in the Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities. This is of particular importance for new teachers who may not have been made aware of these requirements.
The Awareness presentation for sport safety guidelines needs to be presented every 2 years. Records of attendance at this training are required.
External communication is provided to students and the community outlining the sport and physical activities that are timetabled to meet the weekly requirement of 150min. Sample whole school physical activity timetables are available.
What is your evidence that the school has consistently observed and applied all policy requirements?
The school locally based Sport and Physical Activity procedure documents (sports handbook for staff/students, weekly sports timetable, local sports procedures document for gala days, carnivals, etc), developed by the principal or executive of the school. A template (DOCX 73KB) is available for schools to help develop their procedures document.
The stage-based timetable for curriculum areas with indicative times to demonstrate minimum required hours.
Risk management/control measures in variations to routine documentation show the application of the “Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities”.
Permission notes including information from “Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities” (e.g. supervision, guidelines for equipment, protective equipment, behaviour and expectations related to safety).
External providers provide evidence that the requirements of the “Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities” are met.
Pre-excursion briefing/documentation provided to students and parents regarding, safe use of equipment and behavioural and safety requirements.
Possible artifacts of evidence might include (only one or two significant pieces):
- sample from the School developed procedures for sport/physical activity (handbook)
- sample timetable/scope and sequence/spreadsheets showing indicative hours
- meeting minutes, agenda, professional learning sign on sheets, a couple of slides from a PowerPoint presentation, certificates of attainment and qualifications (students and teachers)
- permission notes
- newsletter, website links, school-based web applications, photos.
Staff training registers are reviewed by the principal and / or school executive every 12 months showing adherence to professional learning and the Sport and Physical Activity Policy.
Induction processes indicate training of new staff and temporary staff in excursion procedures and use of the “Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities”.
Review of procedures document, including version control showing new dates.
Curriculum review meeting and consequent documentation showing NSW Department of Education curriculum requirements and indicative requirements at school.
Related Teacher Professional Learning (TPL)
To assist teachers in meeting sport policy requirements the School Sport Unit has developed 2 free of charge, NESA registered, TPL courses that support the development and review of sport and physical activity in their school. For more information view the Meeting sport policy requirements section of the Online and school-based professional learning page.
The NSW Premier's Sporting Challenge (PSC) partners with a number of university academics and has created a number of TPL opportunities from their evidence-based research which shows students are more motivated, stay on task longer and learn more effectively when they are active. These include:
- Thinking while moving (TwM) - physical activity incorporated into Mathematics and English lessons.
- iPLAY - explicit teaching practices and learning modules to enrich planned and incidental school-based physical activity experiences.
- Physical Activity for Everyone (PA4E1) - support and resources to review, renew and enhance secondary school sport, physical education and physical activity programs.