To mark this week's Anti-Bullying Week, the Premier League and Anti-Bullying Alliance have teamed up to produce a set of new resources to help equip teachers with tools to effectively address bullying.
The free curriculum-linked Premier League Primary Stars resources, titled 'Choose Respect', are designed for children aged 7-11 and tap into this year's Anti-Bullying Week theme of respect for all, regardless of gender, race, or ability, and applying it in real-life situations.
Download: Choose Respect resources
Drawing on the expertise of industry leaders, subject-matter experts and the influence of Premier League role models - both on and off the pitch - the football-themed lessons use the sport's appeal to inspire meaningful classroom conversations, encourage reflection on behaviour and promote respectful relationships.
"We are delighted about this collaboration with the Premier League to create school materials for Anti-Bullying Week," says Martha Evans, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
"Together, we hope to equip educators with the skills they need to promote respect over bullying and make a positive impact on young people's lives."
About Premier League Primary Stars
Launched in 2017, Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League's primary school education programme.
Funded by the Premier League, via the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme uses the appeal of football to help children to learn, be active and develop essential life skills.
The free programme provides teachers and parents with access to more than 650 downloadable resources across a range of curriculum subjects at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, developed by teachers for teachers, and in collaboration with subject experts.
The 'Choose Respect' teaching pack is the latest Premier League Primary Stars resource to be made available to teachers.
Offering practical, easy-to-use resources aligned with the English and Welsh PSHE curriculum, the resource helps pupils to explore key concepts like self-respect, respect for others and understanding how their actions affect those around them.
Developed with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, the lessons tackle the root causes of bullying using insights from young people.
"The new resource uses children's passion for football to engage them in learning," says Premier League Charitable Fund Chief Executive, Ruth Shaw OBE. "Promoting respect in schools is vital for creating safe, inclusive environments where children can thrive.
"The resource, designed to support children to understand the consequences of actions, during Anti Bullying Week and beyond, is our latest free PSHE offering for primary school teachers.
"It complements the Premier League Primary Stars suite of more than 650 free primary school resources designed to harness children's love of the sport to help them to develop essential life skills, and to learn and engage in classroom activities."
The resource pack includes a complete lesson focused on exploring respect both on and off the pitch, supported by a word bank of key terms like acceptance and conflict, as well as a film reinforcing positive behaviour.
In addition to the 'Choose Respect' resources, Premier League Primary Stars offers a selection of Anti-Bullying Week resources such as; Make a Noise about Bullying (teaching pupils how to speak out against bullying), Reaching Out (highlighting the importance of supporting those affected by bullying), and Kicking Around Kindness (using football scenarios to promote kindness as an antidote to bullying).
All resources align with Premier League Primary Stars' values of being ambitious, inspiring, connected and fair, helping to create more respectful and inclusive school environments.
For more information and to explore the full range of teaching resources, visit the Premier League Primary Stars website.
