Member Article

Pupils improve literacy skills through innovative English on the Move course

Young people can improve their literacy skills through physical activity thanks to a new learning solution from multi-award winning education and training provider Aspire Active Education Group.

Innovative physical learning programme English On The Move has been launched by Birmingham-based Aspire to combine activities with spelling, punctuation and grammar teaching, all aligned to the National Curriculum.

Building on the numeracy physical activity programme Maths On The Move which has been run by schools and training providers across the UK since 2015, the Aspire team have developed English On The Move to improve literacy skills in the rebuilding from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new programme works through team games, movement activities and learning tasks, during which pupils focus on an outcome in each lesson, reinforcing and practising what they have learnt in their classroom English lessons.

Aspire designed English On The Move lessons to be taught by trained educators. The sessions are suitable for all abilities and can be tailored to meet the needs of pupils in individual cohorts. The impact of English On The Move is constantly measured via an online platform and regular reports.

Andrew Stanton, Head of Education for Aspire, said: “English On The Move is a physically active learning programme which supports children’s understanding and confidence in spelling punctuation and grammar (SPaG) through movement. The programme runs from Year 1 to Year 6 and it is aligned to the National Curriculum which means teachers can choose the most suitable objectives to support the children and the class taking part.

“The programme is built on a growing body of research which shows the positive associations between physical activity and cognitive function in children. Every English On The Move lesson has exciting, movement-based games, challenges and activities to allow children to discover and understand SPaG rules and then apply them by practicing in varied contexts.

“Spelling, punctuation and grammar can be confusing for pupils as the wide range of complex-sounding terminology can be intimidating and the number of rules and exceptions can be overwhelming.

“English On The Move offers a chance to break down some of these barriers by taking the same key concepts to a new environment, with a different way of learning. Although it is still a new programme, the data from trials is extremely positive, with 98.7% of pupils surveyed saying they would like to do the programme again. Most importantly of all, pre-programme and post-programme test scores showed that 95.6% of children had improved in SPaG after taking part.

“With our two pronged approach to Maths and English through the two On The Move courses, we are engaging with partners in the education and physical activity sectors and want to reach out to sports coaching companies to deliver our programmes in new areas.”

Among those to see the benefit is Helen Lowe, Headteacher of Penns Hall Primary School in Sutton Coldfield. She said: “We absolutely love English On The Move. We have aligned it to our curriculum and it allows our children to learn spelling, punctuation and grammar in a really fun and different way.”

Penns Hall Year 5 teacher Nathan Greaves said: “When I am teaching spelling, children find it really difficult whereas English On The Move allows children to do a difficult concept but in a fun and physically active environment which takes away the fear which is really important.”

The launch of English On The Move comes on the back of awards recognition for Aspire Active Education Group. In November they won the community impact award at the Business Desk West Midlands Business Masters awards along with the training provider of the year and education engagement awards at the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards.

Based in Spitfire Road and with 44 staff, Aspire provide innovative delivery and training services along with education resources to inspire children and young people to be more active, more often. The Aspire aim is to “end physical inactivity forever” and help one million children move by 2024.

Aspire has grown its reputation within the physical activity and training sectors. In September, the company was named a winner in the Lloyds Bank Small Business of 2021 awards, which honour businesses across the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Leggett .