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Safety and Risk in Primary School Physical Education Physical education and sport in schools is undergoing renewed emphasis and the primary sector key stages are rightly seen as fundamental elements in the new initiatives. The majority of primary school teachers are non-specialists and there is, therefore, a particular need for information on safe planning and practice in physical education to be designed to meet their specific requirements. Safety is a central issue in PE and, as risk assessment is now a statutory part of Health and Safety at Work requirements, it is vitally important that all staff have a clear understanding of their responsibilities. As all schools are now obliged to undertake risk management, this book addresses a very real need. Safety and Risk in Primary School Physical Education gives comprehensive coverage of all aspects of safety in PE in primary schools, including: • • • • • • The school’s and teachers’ legal responsibilities Policies on good practice and risk Pupil readiness Equipment and the Environment Each subject area included in the National Curriculum; Gymnastics, Games, Dance, Athletics, Adventure Activities and Swimming. Checklists of key points for safe practice John Severs has spent many years working in primary schools. He was a class teacher and an LEA advisory teacher in primary school PE before working as a lecturer in teacher training with particular responsibility for professional PE. He currently works as a consultant to primary educators and as an expert witness. Safety and Risk in Primary School Physical Education A guide for teachers John Severs with Peter Whitlam and Jes Woodhouse First published 2003 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004. © 2003 John Severs. Peter Whitlam and Jes Woodhouse their individual chapters All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Severs, John, 1935– Safety and risk in primary school physical education: a guide for teachers / John Severs with Peter Whitlam and Jes Woodhouse. p. cm. 1. Physical education and training – Study and teaching (Elementary) – Great Britain. 2. Schools – Great Britain – Safety measures. I. Whitlam, Peter, 1949– II. Woodhouse, Jes. III. Title. GV365.5.G7S48 2003 372.86´028´9–dc21 ISBN 0-203-46446-X Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-47291-8 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0–415–31815–7 (hbk) ISBN 0–415–26879–6 (pbk) 2002037128 Contents v Contents List of figures Contributors Foreword Acknowledgements Abbreviations vii viii ix x xi Introduction 1 1 The teacher and the law 3 2 The teacher and the child 14 3 The teacher, equipment and environment 25 Risk management principles 30 4 PETER WHITLAM 5 Devising a policy for risk management in physical education 43 PETER WHITLAM 6 Gymnastics and dance 50 7 Small apparatus work 70 8 Games 75 9 Chasing activities and relays 97 10 11 Athletics