Better Movers and Thinkers

Date: 10th September 2015
Category: Recreation, play and cultural activities
Author: Education Scotland

The Better Movers and Thinkers (BMT) Resource on the Education Scotland website introduces an approach to learning and teaching in Physical Education to develop the ability of all children and young people to move and think in a more cohesive way.

BMT is an approach to learning and teaching in physical education designed to develop the ability of all children and young people to move and think in a more cohesive way with a specific focus on developing, enhancing and fostering Executive Function (EF) skills within the learning process. The BMT approach represents an evolution in physical education and incorporates pedagogical development and innovative content with current good practice.

BMT - what does it do?
- It focuses on learning - the process and the product
- it helps to develop kinaesthetic awareness, which is essential when learning or developing physical skills, qualities and attributes
- it helps to engage the learners, and then sustain their engagement
- it supports learning by helping to develop thinking skills through movement
- it supports learning by helping to develop executive function skills
- it supports the development of movement through the use of scaffolding practices
- it enhances the development of performance through the practices of layering refinement and complexity
- it facilitates differentiation by focusing on the work of the individual
- it has the capacity to place physical education at the forefront of learning and teaching across the curriculum.

Education Scotland have designed a resource pack to support teachers in the delivery of the required physical education provision for all children in Scotland.

Through the weekly commitment of two hours for primary school children, and two periods in S1 - S4. Scottish Government has clarified the importance of the role physical education plays in the school curriculum in Scotland.

Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child places a duty on UK Governments to ensure that every child has a right to access play, leisure and cultural activities.