Home Podcasts The PE Umbrella | Practical conversations for Primary PE teachers
The PE Umbrella | Practical conversations for Primary PE teachers

The PE Umbrella | Practical conversations for Primary PE teachers

Ryan Ellis 260 Episodes Aug 23, 2026

The PE Umbrella is a podcast for primary teachers and PE specialists who want practical, actionable ideas they can use straight away. Hosted by Ryan Ellis, each episode features honest conversations with educators from around the world, sharing real strategies, lessons, and experiences from the field. With over 200 episodes to date, the focus is simple: cut through the noise and help you deliver better PE with confidence, clarity, and impact.

Episodes

Under the Umbrella with Dominic Tollan - What is PE really for?
Under the Umbrella with Dominic Tollan - What is PE really for? Aug 23, 2026 00:58:41 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Dominic Tollan for a wide-ranging conversation about what primary PE is really for, and what we might be missing when we reduce it to sport and physical skills.We talk about the role of the primary teacher, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on children's movement experiences, and why fundamental movement skills still matter, but perhaps not in
Under the Umbrella with Dr Emma Powell - Rethinking School Swimming
Under the Umbrella with Dr Emma Powell - Rethinking School Swimming Aug 16, 2026 00:44:27 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined again by Dr Emma Powell for a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about the role of swimming within primary physical education and why we may need to rethink what success in school swimming really looks like.Together, we explore the place of swimming within the wider PE curriculum, discussing how we can move beyond a narrow focus on
Under the Umbrella with Mike Kuczala & Lynne Kenney - Move More, Learn More
Under the Umbrella with Mike Kuczala & Lynne Kenney - Move More, Learn More Jul 26, 2026 00:56:13 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Mike Kuczala & Lynne Kenney for a fascinating conversation exploring one of the most important relationships in education: the connection between movement, the brain and learning.Together, we explore why movement is not simply something children do during PE or at break time, but a fundamental part of how they develop, learn and engage
Under the Umbrella with Ben Holden - Primary PE Leadership
Under the Umbrella with Ben Holden - Primary PE Leadership Jul 19, 2026 00:56:12 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Author of Wanna Teach PE and Wanna Lead PE, Ben Holden, for a rich conversation exploring the realities of primary PE leadership and what it takes to create meaningful, consistent experiences for every child.Together, we unpack some of the biggest questions facing PE leaders today. How do we ensure PE reflects the unique context of our scho
Under the Umbrella with Dr Gerald Griggs - The Real Purpose of Primary PE
Under the Umbrella with Dr Gerald Griggs - The Real Purpose of Primary PE Jul 12, 2026 01:01:18 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Dr Gerald Griggs for a thought-provoking conversation about what meaningful learning in primary PE really looks like.Together, we explore how we can create lessons that are more than just physically active, considering how children think, connect, grow in confidence and, most importantly, enjoy the experience of learning through movement.We
Under the Umbrella with Dr Cameron Van der Smee - Why Primary PE Must Be Learning-Focused
Under the Umbrella with Dr Cameron Van der Smee - Why Primary PE Must Be Learning-Focused Jul 5, 2026 00:51:29 On this episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast I am joined by lecturer of Health and Physical Education at Deakin University, Cameron Van der Smee.Amongst many things, we delve into the essence of great primary physical education, emphasising a learning-focused approach, engaging lessons, and the impact of negative experiences on student engagement.The conversation covers inclusive teaching strategies
Under the Umbrella with Gareth Williams - Building Inclusive Primary PE That Every Child Can Enjoy
Under the Umbrella with Gareth Williams - Building Inclusive Primary PE That Every Child Can Enjoy Jun 28, 2026 00:52:11 On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by primary PE teacher and founder of Play Folke, Gareth Williams.The conversation covers Gareth's journey to teaching, the concept of Playfolke and changing perceptions of PE. Key takeaways include the importance of inclusive and engaging primary PE, building confidence in teaching PE, and the significance of relationship-building.If you're lo
Under the Umbrella with Damian Hughes - The Key to Creating High-Performance Environments in PE
Under the Umbrella with Damian Hughes - The Key to Creating High-Performance Environments in PE Jun 21, 2026 01:06:46 On this special episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by best-selling author and co-host of the enormously successful High Performance podcast, Damian Hughes.In this conversation, Damian and I discuss the power of consistency, the definition of high performance, the concept of the say-do gap, and the building of confidence and resilience in children. We also talk about the power of feedb
Under the Umbrella with Vicky Randall - The Four 'C's for Enhancing Movement Skills in Primary PE
Under the Umbrella with Vicky Randall - The Four 'C's for Enhancing Movement Skills in Primary PE Jun 14, 2026 00:58:11 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Education research consultant, Vicky Randall.This episode discusses the topic of movement competence and delves into fundamental movement skills, transitional movement skills, the proficiency barrier, the impact of upbringing on movement competency, transitional movement skills in PE lessons, and signs of progress in movement learning. We a
Under the Umbrella with Dr Tom Quarmby - One Routine Change That Makes PE a Safer Space for Pupils
Under the Umbrella with Dr Tom Quarmby - One Routine Change That Makes PE a Safer Space for Pupils Jun 7, 2026 00:49:39 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by reader in PE & sport pedagogy at the Carnegie School of Sport, Dr Tom QuarmbyThe conversation explores trauma-informed practice in primary PE, discussing the impact of trauma on children's behaviour and the role of physical education in supporting pupils who have experienced trauma. Tom shares insights on trauma, its manifestations, and
Under the Umbrella with Rhys Meredith - Primary PE, Done Better
Under the Umbrella with Rhys Meredith - Primary PE, Done Better May 31, 2026 00:51:02 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Elementary Physical Education Teacher at the American International School of Budapest, Rhys MeredithThe conversation explores the key elements of great primary PE, focusing on student voice, choice, and meaningful experiences. It delves into the concept of just right challenges, student autonomy, and the impact of student feedback. The dis
Under the Umbrella with Matt Magowan - Why Your PE Lessons Might Be Missing a Critical Element
Under the Umbrella with Matt Magowan - Why Your PE Lessons Might Be Missing a Critical Element May 24, 2026 00:54:32 In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by primary PE teacher at the United Nations international school of Hanoi, Matt MagowanIn this episode we explore what excellent primary PE looks like, including show favourite questions from years gone by. The conversation covers the importance of transitions in PE lessons, the concept of student agency and choice in learning, effective class

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