Buntús Programmes

Buntús Programmes are exciting programmes developed to support teachers and childcare practitioners in introducing young people to sport and physical activity.

It is important that an enjoyable multi-sport and non-competitive model is used to introduce our children to sport that will complement and enhance both our school and community sport programmes. For all Buntús programmes the programme is delivered in a package consisting of 3 components; the equipment, the resource cards and the training. The three key components of the programme are designed to provide easy to understand, and accessible support to give children a fun, but high quality, introduction to sport. The purpose of the course is to empower teachers and childcare practitioners to use the cards in their PE / physical activity sessions.Leitrim Sports Partnership provide the following Buntús Programmes:

Buntús Start:

Buntús Start is a comprehensive physical activity programme for children aged 2-5 years old. It can also be adapted for older age groups. It has been designed for use in pre-school settings so that pre-school and playgroup leaders can provide a wide range of learning opportunities for young children to develop their fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills, co-ordination and balancing skills and develop a positive attitude to physical activity.

Buntús Start helps adults working with children to establish positive attitudes to activity and a healthy lifestyle through enjoyable activity with children. Buntús Start offers a combination of adult-initiated and child-led activities and enables adults to choose and plan appropriate activities as well as giving children opportunities to freely select and explore. Whilst using Buntús Start children have opportunities to develop naturally through individual involvement in physical play, small group activity and to participate in whole-group activity.

The aim of Buntús Start is:

To extend the physical, creative, personal, social and emotional capabilities of pre-school children through enjoyable, planned, physical development play activities in the areas of spatial awareness, basic motor skills, co-ordination and control skills and aiming, predicting and estimating skills.

Buntús Start offers a wealth of physical learning opportunities to enable children realise their potential and to become active and independent learners through play. Buntús Start activities help children’s learning in other curriculum areas by supporting and developing the following:

  • Personal, social and emotional well being
  • Social and creative skills
  • Attention skills and persistence
  • Language and communication
  • Reading, writing and maths
  • Knowledge and understanding of the world
  • Creative development

At the end of the training session, each participating centre will be provided with a set of resource cards and a Buntús Start bag of equipment.

Buntús Soccer:

Buntús Soccer complements the games strand of the Physical Education curriculum in Primary Schools and involves a 4 hour session by our qualified Buntús FAI soccer development officer free of charge to all teachers in the school. The course is designed to assist teachers and to introduce children (aged 6-12 years) to fun soccer games and Fundamental movement skills in a well-structured, stimulating and safe environment. This programme will provide teachers with the ability to plan, organise and implement a coaching session for primary School children.

Contact Leitrim Sports Partnership on 071 9650498 or sports@leitrimcoco.ie.