A randomised trial of an intervention to facilitate the implementation of school-based practices known to increase students’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

The physical activity practices to be implemented in schools are derived from the “Supporting Children’s Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills” (SCORES) program. These practices will allow us to evaluate the health service program. Practices include: a) Teacher professional development to deliver quality physical education lessons; b) Development of a school physical activity policy; c) Provision of recess and lunch physical activity sessions; d) Incentives to engage students in physical activity; and e) Parental engagement via newsletters. To facilitate the implementation of these practices, the following strategies will be used:- 1) Executive support: The school principal will be encouraged to demonstrate and communicate support for the SCORES program by: electing a school champion (teacher from the intervention school) to lead the intervention; speaking to teachers about the intervention at staff meetings; supporting teachers to participate in professional development training; and developing a school physical activity policy which outlines the teaching of fundamental movement skills, guidelines for recess and lunch-time physical activity sessions, and methods to engage parents such as providing newsletters. 2) Staff training: All teachers will be invited to attend an onsite, 90 minute professional development workshop facilitated by a qualified Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teacher. The workshop will aim to build skills in delivering quality physical education lessons, including the teaching of Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) and adherence to “Supportive, Active, Autonomous, Fair and Enjoyable” (SAAFE) teaching principles. 3) Tools and resources: Resources provided to teachers at the professional development workshop will include: the SCORES Activity Handbook; the SAAFE lesson plan template; the SAAFE checklist for self-assessment; SAAFE posters; a sample of a PDHPE scope and sequence; and a list of minimum equipment for lessons. Resources provided to school champions will include: a checklist of weekly tasks and reminders; idea sheets for recess and lunch-time activity sessions; and SCORES program newsletters for distribution to parents. 4) Academic detailing: A follow-up visit to the school by a support officer will take place one-month after the teachers’ professional development training. The support officer will conduct peer-teaching to assist teachers to use the SAAFE principles when planning their physical activity lessons and problem-solve any barriers to implementing the school’s physical activity policy. 5) Ongoing support: Short, 5 minute duration video clips demonstrating the SAAFE teaching principles will be emailed every 2 weeks to schools throughout the 2nd term of the intervention. Principals will be encouraged to show these videos at staff meetings. Support officers will conduct 1 observation of physical activity lessons in the 2nd term of the intervention and provide feedback to teachers using the SAAFE checklist. School champions will be sent fortnightly emails containing tips for how to continue to implement the SCORES program within the school. 6) Recognition and incentives: School champions will receive a SCORES program polo shirt as soon as all meetings, training sessions, and observation sessions have been scheduled. Teachers who attend the professional development workshop will receive whistles, lanyards, stickers and merit certificates, which can be presented to students who take part in recess and lunch-time activities. Schools will receive equipment packs once all of the SAAFE videos have been viewed at staff meetings. 7) Performance monitoring and feedback: Two reports regarding the school’s progress towards implementing the SCORES program will be provided to the principal and school champion (one report per term). The first report will be sent one week following peer-teaching, and the second report will be sent one week after the physical education lesson observations. The overall duration is 9 months (3 school terms)