Balance-Ability: What's it all about?

Balance-Ability: What's it all about?

What is Balance-Ability?

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Balance-ability is the UK's first accredited 'learn to cycle' programme for children aged 2½ to 6 years old.

The programme is a structured course that combines unique ergonomic balance bikes with a schedule of fun activities that build confidence, spatial awareness and dynamic balance skills enabling young children to cycle without ever needing stabilisers.

What is a Balance-Bike?

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A balance bike is a lightweight, pedal-less child's bike which facilitates balance and propulsion. Children run along whilst seated, push off the ground to create forward movement and use a combination of their feet- and a hand-operated brake to slow down and stop safely.

Why is Balance-ability Important for children?

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Nearly half of the UK’s kids are unable to ride a bike by the time they turn six due to the increased pressures of modern lifestyles. By the time children reach year 5, only 50% of pupils on average can ride a pedal bike independently. Through a fun and safe introduction to riding a bike, Balance-ability aims to 'embed in the psyche' of young children that cycling is a part of life.

By improving balance and sensory processing skills, children with healthy vestibular systems can excel and those with challenges or weaknesses (those with Dyslexia, Down Syndrome, ADD and ADHD) can improve dramatically.

Fundamental motor skills are the building blocks for engagement in physical activity and aid all aspects of the learning process. If these skills are underdeveloped in childhood, children's ability to participate in and enjoy physical activity can be greatly diminished. In practicing gross and fine motor skills, children not only gain intellectually, but also grow in strength, develop new skills, and enjoy increased confidence levels in the face of new challenges.

How is it Delivered in a School Setting?

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The Balance-Ability programme is specifically designed for Nursery, Reception and Year 1 pupils.

The course is made up of 12 weekly sessions, 6 sessions for level 1 and 6 sessions for level 2.

Some Schools also choose to have the Programme for a whole year using it as an intervention to support least active children.

When delivering in school, the maximum group size for each session is 10 pupils. Each session is advised to last between 35-45 minutes.

If opting for a 1/2 day of Balance-Ability (morning or afternoon) then this would allow you to do 3 sessions and complete the programme with one whole class of 30. If opting for a whole day, then this would allow for a total of 6 sessions to be completed - 2 whole classes of 30.

The course is usually delivered within the school hall, however during the summer months, can be delivered outside on the playground.

How is it Delivered in a Holiday Camp Setting?

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During various Holiday Camps throughout the year, you can sign your child up to a 5 Day intensive learn to ride programme.

Not only does this programme get children riding solo on a pedal bike, it can be used to develop childrens riding ability for those that can already ride independently.

This programme is only for children aged 4-6 at the time of the course.

This a block booking for 5 days. 8am-12pm. Children take part in up 3 hours of Balance-Ability sessions per day with time for breaks and free activity time.

During this intensive course, children work through the level 1 and level 2 programme and those children exceeding the programme will use pedal bikes.  

The aim of this intensive learn to ride course is to have children riding with confidence independently on a pedal bike within 5 days,

What will Pupils develop and learn throughout the programme?

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Within Level 1, fundamental movement patterns, gross motor skills and dynamic balance are incorporated along with an introduction to the balance bike. Children learn how to pick up, manoeuvre, mount and dismount their bikes and how to ride a balance bike safely. Level 1 aims to build confidence in the ability to glide on a balance bike and how to stop in a controlled manner.

Level 2 continues the development of gross motor skills, dynamic balance and co-ordination and progresses to advanced balance-ability. The main goal is to improve the child's gliding, stopping, braking and turning skills, enabling them to ride solo on a pedal bike safely and with confidence by the end of the program.

What about children that can already ride a pedal bike independently, wouldn’t it be a step back for them to ride a balance-bike?

At RB Gym and Sport, we understand the importance of challenging our high achievers and to keep moving forward.

We always bring pedal bikes to the balance-ability sessions which means that children that can already ride a pedal bike will complete the activities with the challenge of pedalling; pupils will be challenged to pedal and glide from seated and standing positions, ride 1 handed, use arm signals to demonstrate where they are turning, develop their ability to ride at different speeds and increase their ability to push off and stop on a pedal bike.

What is included within the programme?

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• An accredited RB Gym and Sport Balance-ability Instructor

• Balance-ability bikes and pedal bikes

• Helmets

• Balance and co-ordination training aids

• Road awareness signs and course cones

• Visual activity cards

Can I use Sport Premium Funding for Balance-Ability?

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Absolutely! Balance-Ability will meet the following targets:

Embedding physical activity into the school day through active travel to and from school, active break times and active lessons and teaching.
Develop or add to the PE, Physical Activity and Sport that your school provides.
Providing targeted activities or support to involve and encourage the least active children.

Do we receive any data from the programme?

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RB Gym and Sport Educators ensure that Balance-ability is a progressive 'outcome based' learning programme where children are assessed at regular points throughout the course in order to monitor and measure progress. Schools will receive assessment data and a short impact report to help evidence the programme to Ofsted and use in your Sport Premium Evidence and Impact report.

Why should I Use RB Gym and Sport instead of buying Balance-Bikes and Training my own staff?

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All our bikes and equipment undergo termly services and maintenance checks to ensure our equipment is kept at the highest quality for pupils. When buying the Balance-Bikes yourself, you will need to spend extra money in servicing the bikes and storing them somewhere safe and dry.
Our Sport Educators have the time within school to prepare and use a range of sensory equipment and resources. Often in school, the time it takes to set up the balance-ability activities can be a great time restraint on teachers.
Our sport educators have a great depth of knowledge in sport and an expertise to develop young children to their own ability.
Using your own staff to develop balance-ability, means taking away support from another area in school. This programme is designed to enhance the pe curriculum and not take away from another area. All staff at RB Gym and Sport hold up to date DBS, Safeguarding, First aid and Prevent certificates so you can rest assured that children are safe and quality care when working with RB Gym and Sport instructors.

What are the costs of the programme?

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If you would like a quotation for your school, or would like to set up a meeting please email alex.welch@rbgymandsport.co.uk.

Please include: School Name, Contact information and the number of classes you would like to undergo the balance-ability programme with.

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