Key Stage 1 Skipping Unit: Skipping Foundations
Six lessons that take Year 1 and Year 2 pupils from their first turn of the rope to skipping on their own and running through a long rope, working towards the Orange and Green Awards.
This unit works towards
Every lesson practises award skills, and lesson 6 is an award day that opens the assessment pages and prints certificates. Children who are ready can move on to the next award at any time.
By the end of the unit, pupils can
- Skip continuously with a double bounce, and try a single bounce
- Count their own skips out loud
- Skip backwards, with a running step and hopping
- Skip side straddles
- Jump inside a turning long rope, then run in, jump once and run out
KS1 PE
- Master basic movements, including running and jumping
- Develop balance, agility and coordination
- Apply skills in a range of activities
- Take part in cooperative team games
The revised National Curriculum is due to be published in spring 2027 for first teaching in September 2028. We will update these links when it is.
Pupils who are struggling to skip
For Year 1 and Year 2 pupils who are still learning, and pupils with SEND, skip-hop coach Lee Collinson-James uses face-to-face partner skipping: you turn the rope, they just jump. Read Lee’s tips.
The lessons
The full interactive lessons are part of the All-Access Skip Pass. The skill pages are free to everyone.
Rope ready
Sizing and holding the rope, swing and jump, the first double bounces, and jumping inside a long rope.
Find the rhythm
Continuous double bounce, counting skips out loud and with a partner, then the single bounce.
Backwards and straddles
Turning the rope backwards, the side straddle, then skill stations with all the basics so far.
Into the long rope
Front door: running in, jumping once and running out, with the call “Ready… in you go”, and a counting rhyme.
Award day: Orange and Green Award day
The second assessment session for the Orange and Green Awards, a 30-second challenge ready for the Virtual Skipping League, and certificates.
How the lessons cover the awards
| Award | What pupils show | L1 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | L6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Skips 10 times in a row (double or single bounce) | A | |||||
| Orange | Skips at least once backwards | A | |||||
| Orange | Counts their own skips out loud (forwards or backwards skipping) | A | |||||
| Orange | Jumps inside a long rope while teachers turn the rope | A | |||||
| Green | Skips 20 single bounces in a row | A | |||||
| Green | Skips 10 running steps and hops 5 on each foot | A | |||||
| Green | Skips 5 backwards in a row | A | |||||
| Green | Skips 5 side straddles | A | |||||
| Green | Runs into a long rope, jumps once and runs out (see the Figure of Eight long rope game) | A |
● practised in that lesson · A assessed on the award day. Pupils pass when they show every skill with control on two different days, so the earlier lessons count as the first session.
Ropes for this unit
2.1 m, one each, plus a 4.5 m and a 7.5 m long rope.
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