Physical activities in Hong Kong kindergartens: A content analysis of the Quality Review reports

Physical activities in Hong Kong kindergartens: A content analysis of the Quality Review reports

• Fan, Thomas Chun Man The Education University of Hong Kong
• Bautista Arellano, Alfredo The Education University of Hong Kong
• Chan, King Chung Derwin The Education University of Hong Kong

Policy Futures in Education, 2023

SAGE Publications

2023

• A Human Growth & Development
  • AA Physical & Psychomotor Development
• D Curriculum
  • DC Pre-Primary Education Programmes

Physical Activities Kindergartens Curriculum Pedagogy Quality Assessment

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Pre-Primary Education

In Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (EDB) is responsible for the quality assurance of kindergarten education services. EDB inspectors regularly conduct school visits to monitor kindergartens’ performance and publish a Quality Review (QR) report for each kindergarten. Given the limited research on pedagogical practices pertaining to physical activities in Hong Kong kindergartens, the current study analyzes the content concerning this learning area in the QR reports. We analyzed 164 QR reports (published between 2017 and 2020) according to four analytic dimensions: (1) Overall presence of content pertaining to physical activities; (2) References to specific forms of physical activities; (3) Positive feedback; and (4) Negative feedback and recommendations. The presence of physical activities in the QR reports was found to be low (5% on average). EDB inspectors alluded to physical activities generically, not specifying the motor skill(s) at hand. Both positive and negative feedback focused primarily on matters pertaining to the time of exposure to physical activities and teachers’ pedagogical quality. Our evidence suggests the existence of potential gaps between Hong Kong’s kindergarten policies and actual physical activity practices. Further professional development seems necessary to strengthen both teachers’ pedagogies and inspectors’ understandings of physical activities. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s).

• English

Journal Articles

• 14782103

• 10.1177/14782103231182741

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/7c56f172

2023-10-18