Personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) is mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10.
According to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), students are expected to participate in PDHPE for between 1.5 and 2.5 hours per week in Kindergarten to Year 6.
PDHPE provides students with opportunities to explore issues that are likely to impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others – now and in the future. Students also participate in challenging and enjoyable physical activity, improving their capacity to move with skill and confidence.
The study of PDHPE is concerned with:
- physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth and development patterns - Feelings of self-confidence and self-acceptance and the ability to act in the best interests of themselves and others are fostered by an understanding of the nature of life’s changes and the uniqueness of individual development.
- the development and maintenance of positive interpersonal relationships - Successful interaction with others in contexts such as the family, peer group and teams is essential to meet the individual’s need for belonging and security. Students’ capacity to form relationships and cope with changes in relationships is influenced by understandings and skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, tolerance, roles, responsibilities and community expectations associated with friendships and relationships.
- the factors influencing personal health choices - Young students need clear guidance concerning appropriate health attitudes and behaviours. As students mature they require assistance in discerning between conflicting messages from a range of sources. An understanding of health issues empowers students to make appropriate decisions and commit to adopting sound community values.
- living and learning in a safe secure environment - The safety and security of children is enhanced when they can recognise situations where their personal safety may be at risk, and use strategies to protect themselves. When power is used positively in relationships, individuals can support their own and others’ rights to respect and safety.
- the adoption of an active lifestyle - Physical activity habits developed in school years are often maintained in later life. Students need to understand the importance of a balanced lifestyle incorporating regular physical activity for health and fitness.
- fundamental movement patterns and coordinated actions of the body - Children do not naturally develop fundamental movement skills as they grow. Opportunities should be provided for these skills to be taught, practised and encouraged. Having mastery of the Fundamental Movement Skills such as throwing, catching, running and jumping opens up a vast array of sport, leisure and recreation options for the individual. Skills are developed through play, dance, gymnastics, games, sports, aquatics and other recreational activities. The quality of movement is further enhanced through exploring, composing, performing and appreciating movement.
- skills that enable action for better health and movement outcomes - Understanding about health and movement is utilised when students have the necessary ability and self-confidence. The skills of effective communication, interaction, decision making and problem solving and moving with efficiency and confidence empower students to take action leading to better health, improved performance and enhanced self-esteem.
Not all students will have the same degree of control over their health. Illness, disability and sociocultural circumstances will have significant impacts on health and the ability to affect change. However, an emphasis on these skills and understandings of those factors that influence health best prepares students to work towards better health for themselves and others.
Early Stage 1
By the end of Early Stage 1, students identify personal characteristics and strengths, recognise how they are growing and changing and identify different parts of the body. They describe the different emotions people experience. Students practise interpersonal skills to interact positively with others. They identify people who can assist and recognise actions that help them to be resilient, healthy, safe and active. Students explore contextual factors that influence an individual’s health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity. They identify skills and strategies to stay safe and be supported. With developing self-control, students explore emotional responses and cooperate positively with others in a variety of play and group situations.
Students explore how their body responds to movement. They practise body movement and control, demonstrating different ways the body can move in relation to space, time, objects, effort and people. Students compose and sequence simple movements. They show awareness and consideration of others during play situations. Students perform fundamental movement skills and explore possible solutions to movement challenges through participation in a range of activities.
By the end of Stage 1, students describe changes that occur as they grow older, and recognise characteristics of personal identity and how these are influenced by strengths and achievements. They recognise and demonstrate positive ways to interact with others and identify how emotional responses have an impact on others’ feelings. Students explore different types of relationships and describe the qualities needed to develop and maintain respectful relationships. They understand contextual factors that influence health decisions and describe how to keep themselves and others healthy, safe and active. Students recognise environments which promote health, safety and physical activity and practise a range of protective strategies for responding to various situations. They follow instructions to keep themselves safe and are able to ask for help with tasks or problems.
Students identify areas where they can be active and participate in a range of opportunities that promote physical activity. They demonstrate movement skills in a variety of sequences and situations and propose alternatives to solve movement challenges. Students perform fundamental movement skills and apply movement concepts to perform simple sequences that incorporate the elements of space, time, objects, effort and people with developing competence. They demonstrate cooperation, fair play and positive ways to interact and include others.
By the end of Stage 2, students recognise physical and social changes and personal management strategies. They recognise individual strengths and apply these to a wide range of contexts. Students investigate the skills and qualities that build caring and respectful relationships and ways to improve their health, safety and wellbeing. They identify the rights and feelings of others and devise strategies to support themselves and others. Students explore health messages and describe the influences on healthy and safe choices. They recognise their responsibility to contribute to a healthy, safe and physically active environment. Students perform physical activities designed to enhance fitness and discuss the relationships between physical activity, health and fitness. They propose strategies that increase opportunities to develop and maintain healthy, safe and active lifestyles.
Students apply and refine movement skills and movement concepts in a range of physical activity contexts. They create and perform sequences using movement skills and concepts with consistency and control. Students demonstrate cooperation and collaboration in movement and physical activity. They select and demonstrate strategies that help them to solve movement challenges.
By the end of Stage 3, students investigate developmental changes and transitions. They examine the influence of people and places on identity and practise skills to establish and manage relationships. Students identify controllable and uncontrollable factors and recognise the influence of contextual factors on health, safety, Prior-to-school Learning Early Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 establish and manage relationships. Students identify controllable and uncontrollable factors and recognise the influence of contextual factors on health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity. They plan and practise responses, skills and strategies that protect and promote healthy, safe and active lives. Students examine the connections they have to their community and implement actions to increase physical activity levels. They access and interpret health information and apply skills to seek help to enhance their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing.
Students participate in a wide variety of moderate to vigorous physical activities to apply, refine and adapt movement skills with increased confidence and consistency. They perform specialised movement skills and sequences in a variety of contexts. Students select, manipulate and modify movement concepts and strategies to achieve movement outcomes and solve movement challenges. They demonstrate fair play and skills to work collaboratively. Students apply and adapt strategies and tactics when participating in individual and team activities.