Objective:
To find a whole-class strategy that supports focus, engagement and self-regulation — especially amid rising SEND needs
What initially led your school to choose Teach Active?
We have a growing number of children in school who experience challenges with focus, engagement and self-regulation, alongside a significant increase in the number of pupils being referred to the neurodevelopmental pathway. As a school, we were reviewing and strengthening our approaches to SEND, wellbeing and curriculum, and were looking for something that could help address some of these challenges while also benefiting every child.
One of our school values is Be Active and, as a new Headteacher, I felt that this was not yet being fully realised in our day-to-day classroom practice in a way that had a meaningful impact on children's learning. We wanted to move beyond the value simply being words on a page and embed it in a way that genuinely supported children to succeed.
Teach Active provided a solution that aligned with our vision for the school. It supports children who need movement to help them focus and engage, while also enhancing the learning experience for all pupils. It has enabled us to bring our Be Active value to life through high-quality teaching, creating classrooms where children are engaged, motivated and better able to access the curriculum.
What impact has Teach Active had on pupil engagement?
One of the things visitors often comment on is how calm the school feels when they walk around. Teach Active has played a positive role in supporting this by helping teachers incorporate purposeful movement into lessons in a way that feels natural and complements the curriculum.
We expect all classes to include at least one Teach Active English lesson and one Teach Active Maths lesson each week, although most teachers now use elements of the approach daily. The flexibility of the resources is a real strength. Activities can be as short as five minutes or extend to a full lesson, allowing staff to adapt them to the needs of their class and the learning taking place.
The children genuinely enjoy the activities, and we have seen positive benefits in their engagement with learning, self-regulation and behaviour. By embedding movement into classroom practice, pupils are able to remain focused and ready to learn, while still accessing the full curriculum.
Have you noticed any impact on attainment?
Teach Active is an important element of our teaching and learning approach and has a positive impact on both pupil progress and attainment. It allows children to become more actively engaged in their learning, providing an effective whole-class strategy for delivering the curriculum in a way that captures their interest and motivates them to participate.
Alongside its role in high-quality first teaching, Teach Active also supports those children who learn best through movement. By giving pupils the opportunity to physically engage with concepts and skills, it helps to deepen understanding, improve retention and remove barriers to learning. This means that all children can access the curriculum in a way that works for them, leading to greater confidence, stronger outcomes and increased success across a range of subjects.
Have you observed any impact on pupil wellbeing, confidence, behaviour or physical activity?
Including Teach Active within our curriculum has had a positive impact on both pupil wellbeing and confidence. The children genuinely enjoy the opportunity to get out of their seats and engage with learning in a more active way, and this enthusiasm is reflected in their participation and engagement during lessons.
It creates an environment where children feel more confident to take risks with their learning. For some of our more reluctant learners, the activities can feel less high-stakes than traditional classroom tasks, particularly as they involve movement, discussion and collaboration with their peers. As a result, we often see increased participation from children who may otherwise be hesitant to contribute.
Alongside the academic benefits, Teach Active supports the development of confidence, teamwork and resilience. It helps children to engage positively with learning while building the self-belief needed to tackle new challenges and contribute more actively in the classroom.
Which areas have improved since implementing Teach Active?
- Engagement
- Behaviour
- Attendance
- Physical Activity Levels
- Maths Attainment
- English Attainment
- Wellbeing
Any extra details about the impact Teach Active is having on your pupils or staff.
Staff really value the flexibility that the Teach Active portal offers. The resources are easy to search and adapt, allowing teachers to find activities that meet the needs of their class and fit seamlessly into the learning taking place.
We have also found that the special events and themed activities align particularly well with our wider enrichment, SMSC and personal development offer. This has enabled us to make meaningful links across different areas of school life, helping children to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding beyond the academic curriculum. The resources have complemented many of the initiatives already in place within school and have further strengthened our approach to providing a broad and engaging educational experience for all pupils.
In one sentence, how you would describe Teach Active
Teach Active has helped us create classrooms where children are actively engaged in learning, better regulated and able to achieve their full potential.
What would you say to another school considering Teach Active?
If you're looking for a way to increase engagement, support regulation and bring more energy into learning without adding to teachers' workload, Teach Active is well worth considering. It has become a valued part of everyday practice in our school.
With increasing numbers of pupils needing support with focus, engagement and self-regulation, we wanted an approach that would strengthen our curriculum, support wellbeing and benefit every child. Teach Active has enabled us to do exactly that. It has helped us create classrooms where learning is purposeful, active and highly engaging, while maintaining the calm and positive environment that visitors regularly comment upon. Most importantly, it has given our teachers another effective tool to improve outcomes for children and ensure that all learners can access the curriculum in a way that works for them.
Teach Active has made a difference to the way in which we deliver learning in the classroom. The flexibility of the resources means I can use them for a quick five-minute recap or build them into a full lesson, depending on what my class needs. The children are always engaged and eager to take part, and it has had a real impact on focus, confidence and participation, while helping children retain and apply their learning more effectively. Andy Carney, Year 6 teacher