What is PAL and why is it important?

  • What is PAL?

    We believe Physically Active Learning (PAL) means facilitating learning through movement. Rather than just thinking about being physically active, it's a natural integration, so you design learning activity that requires children to move.

  • What do we know?

    Primary school aged children spend the majority of their waking hours at school where between 50-70% of time is spent sitting, particularly in the classroom. the research tells us that Maths and English are the most sedentary time of a child’s day, bar none. Schools have a great opportunity to re-think the culture of sitting, through active breaks and teaching through movement and help educate children to learn lifelong healthy habits.

  • Ask yourself ...

    “How active are our lessons across the curriculum” and "how many opportunities does my school make for children to be active in the classroom, outside and across the curriculum?". If you answer, 'not many' or 'we need to do more', this is the learning for you.

Learning Included:

The following online modules will support you to embed an active curriculum as well as how to support your colleagues and influence your senior leadership team along the way!

What are the benefits of PAL?

Here's what current research tells us!

  • Integrating just 2 or 3 minutes of movement into each lesson can have a significant impact on the physical activity levels of pupils.

  • Physical development isn’t the only area that can benefit from a more active approach to teaching and learning. There is a growing body of evidence that proves physically active learning can improve a child’s retention of knowledge, memory and as a result enhance their academic performance.

  • Physically active children consistently outperform inactive and unfit peers.

  • Classroom-based physical activity may have a positive impact on academic-related outcomes.

  • Through physically active learning, learning outcomes were the most significantly improved factor, with increased on task behaviour being the most impacted.

Want to learn more?

Check out this podcast with extra resources!

The PE Umbrella spoke to Andy Daly-Smith talking about Physically Active Learning (PAL). Listen to the podcast for more, and check out the webinar in the resources from PHE Yorkshire & Humber to find out more about Creating Active Schools framework.
Listen here

Guidance

The UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation that all children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day. At least 30 minutes of this should be delivered in school every day through active break times, PE, extra-curricular clubs, active lessons, or other sport and physical activity events, with the remaining 30 minutes supported by parents and carers outside of school time.
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