Communities NSW

PCAL - Guildelines for using contracted external providers for physical education and school sport

Published: January 2009

For schools with students in Years K–6

Class teachers are best placed to provide and supervise physical education and sport for students as this enables a holistic delivery of the curriculum. They are also better able to meet the individual needs of students. However, some schools may choose to contract an external provider to enhance these activities. A provider of this type might run a weekly physical education program, conduct sport sessions, or be involved in students’ physical activity in some other way.

These guidelines are designed to help school Principals (or relevant people eg Head of Junior School or nominated school executive) decide whether or not they want to hire an external provider. If they choose to engage an external provider, the guidelines may be used by Principals to make decisions about which provider to select. There are four parts to the guidelines:

1. Background – The benefits of physical activity, and the role schools can play in encouraging students to be physically active.
2. Choosing a provider – A checklist of criteria to consider when hiring an external provider, such as qualifications, insurance cover and equipment. It is not essential that a provider meet every one of these criteria, but they are all highly desirable, and a good provider should be prepared to meet them all.
3. Responsibilities of the school – A checklist of responsibilities a school should meet when hiring an external provider, such as child protection, supervision by teachers, and consulting with parents and caregivers about the proposed use of a provider, the cost involved and determining whether or not the school community can pay.
4. Further information – A list of organisations and resources that schools may choose to access.

Acknowledgement

Guidelines for using contracted external providers for physical education and school sport Prepared by the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) in collaboration with Network of Community Activities for the NSW Premier’s Council for Active Living (PCAL)

© NSW Premier’s Council for Active Living, November 2008

For further information, contact: NSW Premier’s Council for Active Living Level 3, 80 William Street, Sydney NSW 2011
Phone: (02) 9219 2438 fax: (02) 9219 2424

Copies of this report are also available at www.pcal.nsw.gov.au

Images used in this publication are courtesy of the NSW Department of Education and Training and Network of Community Activities Australian Better Health Initiative: A joint Australian, State and Territory government initiative.