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Top Dance in Hertfordshire

Top dance, is an exciting package to support Primary Dance in schools which went live to schools in Hertfordshire from January 2001. Since then over 250 Hertfordshire schools have completed their training with me. The package, which is supported by Sport England and the Youth Sports Trust, has been developed by experienced teachers and practitioners in the delivery and in-service support of dance in schools. The package is part of a wider Tops Programme which has been available to Local Education Authorities. The Youth Sport Trust has been instrumental in delivering an extensive range of curriculum and community programmes which support all areas of the physical education curriculum.

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Display/Sharing High Beeches School

Programmes have already been developed to support:

• Athletics
• Games
• Gymnastics
• Swimming
• Early Years
• Health Related Fitness
• Outdoor Adventure Activities

Top dance has been developed to support the teaching and learning of dance activities in Key Stage 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum and will enable teachers to improve the skills, knowledge and understanding of pupils in line with the Physical Education National Curriculum 2000. There has been extensive consultation and piloting of this new package with Local Education Authorities, Arts Council, NDTA, CCPR, KFA and professional dance artists.

The format of Top Dance is similar to the other Tops products. Resource cards and a handbook will be available FREE to schools who have received a comprehensive training programme.

The cards are based around five themes:

• Words, Words, Words
• Counting on You
• Visual Image
• Sounds Like
• Times and Places

Each set of cards has been designed to include activities ranging from simple to more complex work. Within each theme there are also ideas from including young disabled people. The handbook will also include activities for beginning and ending a lesson, with further support on curriculum planning, teaching and learning. An accompanying CD will also be made available for purchase through the LEA trainer for £15.00.

How can we access TOP DANCE?

Choose from the following models:

School based training days:

1. One half day intensive 3 - 4 hours
2. Full day development training
3. School Improvement and Advisory Service professional development training programme. This will normally require attendance on a full day INSET course at Wheathampstead Development Centre (P.E. Co-ordinator or named representative) followed by a minimum of one and a half hours school based training for whole staff conducted by the Adviser for Dance/Tops trainer. This would normally take the form of a twilight session.
4. Consortium or cluster groups could be arranged by Schools, Sports and arts development officers or the Adviser for dance in order to share costs.

The initiative has been extremely well received in schools across the authority since January 2001. If your school feels it would benefit from such a scheme please contact me direct to discuss possibilities.

Please note that training will be charged at the county rate which will include a set of resource cards and a handbook.