Primary School Games for Reception
and Key Stage 1 (4-7 Years)

by Val Sabin

Welcome to the Games Teaching Manual now in its 3rd Edition. With this manual the teaching of games will be enjoyable and give a great sense of achievement to both children and teacher. This is an original framework containing interesting, exciting and proven material within a complete scheme of games experiences that are balanced and progressive. Delivery of the programmes for 4-11 years (Key Stages 1 & 2) satisfies all the requirements of the National Curriculum.

The manual enables the non-specialist Physical Education teacher to operate with high professional expertise right from the start by using the detailed lesson plans. However, before using the lesson plans, everyone is advised to read the sections on “Good Practice in Games” on pages 1 to 43. This section has many useful tips on organisation of equipment, children and playing space, differentiation, lesson structure, and suitable teaching strategies. There is a simple description of the “families” of games, a breakdown of essential personal skills, a section on inventing rules and creating games, and a table that illustrates clearly the progression and development which is planned into the scheme. The lesson plan material for 4-11 years develops from familiarisation to co-ordination and basic game activities through to progressive skill practices into game specific practices and development. The games include hockey, soccer, volleyball, tennis, cricket, rounders, netball, basketball and rugby. The table of contents shows the detailed programme of study for every unit of work in each year and can be copied or adapted as the Games Scheme of Work for a school’s P.E. Policy.

Games lessons are ideally taught out of doors yet all the practices, game-like situations and games in the manual can, with careful organisation, be taught very effectively indoors should the weather be inclement.

The comprehensive programmes for 4-11 years (Reception and Key Stages 1 & 2) with the wide variety of practice and game challenges, provide the children, including those with additional needs, with rich experiences of co-operation, problem solving, creativity and teamwork. The programmes are designed to enable children to reach Key Stage 3 as coordinated, balanced individuals fully understanding the benefits of teamwork and sporting behaviour with many versatile skills that will be a good foundation for achieving excellence in their chosen games in Key Stages 3 & 4 and in later life.