Instruct Exercise and Physical Activity Sessions for Children

This standard is about delivering safe, enjoyable and inclusive exercise and physical activity sessions for children, typically aged 5–15, in supervised environments.

It applies to instructors leading structured, play-based, movement development and age-appropriate fitness activities. The instructor creates a positive environment, uses age-appropriate teaching strategies and supports children to develop physical literacy, confidence and positive attitudes towards being active.

The role includes delivering developmentally appropriate instruction, adapting activities to support safe participation, managing behaviour positively, and working within professional boundaries.

P1 Prepare the environment and equipment so it is clean, safe and suitable for the session and the ages of the children taking part.

P2 Prepare yourself professionally, presenting an approachable manner, demonstrating positive role-modelling behaviours and creating a welcoming atmosphere that helps children feel ready to participate.

P3 Greet children and parents, carers or authorised adults, complete registration, and gather any updated information that may influence safe participation.

P4 Confirm or adapt the planned session in response to relevant information gathered.

P5 Communicate relevant safety, welfare, emergency procedures and ground rules clearly using age-appropriate language.

P6 Communicate, explain and demonstrate activities clearly using age-appropriate language, safe technique, appropriate alignment and suitable teaching methods.

P7 Deliver activities that develop fundamental movement skills, physical literacy and enjoyment of being active.

P8 Use inclusive teaching methods, alternatives, progressions and regressions to support different ages, abilities, confidence levels and additional support needs.

P9 Observe children’s movement and behaviour throughout the session and adapt activities as needed to maintain safety, engagement and meaningful participation.

P10 Provide positive, constructive feedback that encourages effort, confidence, learning and ongoing participation.

P11 Promote teamwork, social interaction and respect, using positive behaviour management strategies to support engagement.

P12 Maintain appropriate pacing and ensure activities remain safe, enjoyable and suitable for the group.

P13 Lead a safe and calming cool-down using child-friendly activities.

P14 Give children opportunities to reflect on their experience and share what they enjoyed, learned or achieved.

P15 Share essential information with parents, carers or authorised adults when appropriate and within organisational procedures.

P16 Make children aware of future activity opportunities to encourage continued participation.

P17 Ensure children leave the session safely by handing them over to parents, carers or authorised adults in line with organisational procedures.

P18 Leave the environment clean and safe, and report any concerns about a child’s health, safety or welfare according to organisational procedures.

K1 Relevant legislation and organisational policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, risk assessment, participant welfare and data protection, that apply to delivering sessions for children.

K2 Professional boundaries, appropriate behaviour and scope of practice when working with children, including when to seek support or report concerns.

K3 How to recognise and report concerns about a child’s health, safety, welfare or behaviour in line with organisational procedures.

K4 How children develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally across the ages of 5–15, and how this influences session delivery.

K5 How physical literacy develops and why it is important for confidence, movement competence and lifelong participation.

K6 Fundamental movement skills and how to teach them effectively, safely and in age-appropriate ways.

K7 Age-appropriate communication methods, including simple language, demonstrations, explanations, questioning and checking understanding.

K8 Teaching strategies that use play, imagination, games and movement exploration to maintain engagement and enjoyment.

K9 Motivational techniques that encourage children to participate, build confidence and develop positive attitudes towards being active.

K10 How to establish and communicate ground rules that support safety, cooperation, respect and positive behaviour.

K11 Techniques for managing behaviour positively and maintaining a supportive, inclusive environment.

K12 How to organise safe activity areas, equipment and group layouts, and monitor children effectively during sessions.

K13 How to identify signs that a child is struggling, disengaged, unsafe or not participating meaningfully, and how to adapt the session in response.

K14 How to adapt activities using alternatives, progressions and regressions to support different ages, abilities, confidence levels, additional support needs and disabilities.

K15 The benefits of physical activity for children’s health, wellbeing and social development.

K16 Healthy lifestyle information suitable for children and within own scope of practice.

K17 How to provide positive and constructive feedback that builds confidence, self-esteem, effort, learning and movement competence.

K18 How to close sessions safely, support children to reflect on their experience, and encourage continued participation.

K19 Organisational procedures for sharing information with parents, carers or authorised adults, and for safely handing children over at the end of sessions.

K20 Organisational requirements for leaving the environment safe, reporting concerns and recording relevant information accurately.

Apparently healthy (children)

Children with no known medical conditions or additional needs requiring specialist medical, therapeutic, or clinical intervention beyond the instructor’s scope of practice.

Fundamental movement skills

Basic movement patterns such as running, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing and coordination that underpin lifelong participation in physical activity.

Scope of practice

The defined limits of responsibility, competence and authority within a role, including when referral to other professionals is required.

SKAEAF6 & SKAEAF22