Ryan Ellis
251 episodes listed below
PRESS PLAY
Ryan Ellis here, the founder and host of the PE Umbrella, a Primary Physical Education podcast and short blog that discusses all things PE. Interviewing inspiring practitioners from the primary education sector, I will be sharing the latest in excellent practice and discussing what makes PE and Sport such an important tool to engage and enhance the learning of children (across the curriculum) so they are ready to leave school with a solid platform to lead a healthy lifestyle and enjoy lifelong physical activity! I will share insights into what makes the top practitioners of today tick, asking about their...
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · June 2026
The PE Umbrella treats primary PE as serious classroom practice, connecting movement, motivation, evidence, and child development.
The PE Umbrella is an Education show for people who think primary physical education deserves more than a list of games. Its conversations stay close to the work of teaching movement: what children are learning, how confidence develops, and why a lesson can look active without…
Superhero tag sounds fun; if you also ask what pupils learned, Ryan Ellis has your number.
Press play if you want
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A candid child-led conversation turns everyday PE preferences into useful questions about lesson design.
The episode turns a primary PE conversation into a useful reminder that children do not all meet the subject in the same way. Ryan Ellis speaks with his 10-year-old son Oliver, who enjoys being active while still making space for PlayStation, and who sees PE as a route into…
A thoughtful case for noticing creativity and leadership when physical performance does not tell the whole story.
Inclusive PE broadens the frame in a useful way: movement is not judged only by how neatly a child performs it. Ryan Ellis's conversation with Faith looks at how primary PE can better include neurodivergent and neurotypical learners, especially children with DCD or dyspraxia,…
A seven-year-old's candid view shows how teamwork and comparison can shape the feel of primary PE.
Primary PE comes through in this episode from a seven-year-old's point of view, as Penelope explains why working with classmates can be fun and how watching a partner helps her learn an exercise.
A reflective PE conversation about grouping, inclusion and the risk of reducing pupils to data.
This PE Umbrella episode follows Jo Hume, PE lead at the British School of Jakarta, as she talks with Ryan Ellis about a teaching moment that stayed with her.
A practical, classroom-close discussion of primary PE lesson structure and specific praise.
Sam Horton's account of primary PE is strongest when it stays inside the lesson itself. A warm-up picks up from the previous week, the learning objective narrows attention to a few knowledge points, and skill development is broken into staged teaching points.
A reflective PE conversation on goal setting, visualization, and the small human details that support better teaching.
The archive opener of The P.E. Umbrella returns to goal setting, visualization, and the mindset work that can strengthen PE teaching. Its strongest moments come when those ideas are tied to ordinary classroom practice, from simple greetings and quick check-ins to a real interest…
A grounded look at primary PE that nudges teachers to keep learning, adapting, and teaching with more intention.
Episode 248 follows Ryan Ellis and Marisa McKay through a practical conversation about primary PE and the habits that shape better teaching. Rather than retelling how PE used to look, they focus on adapting practice, keeping lessons grounded in classroom realities, and using…
A reflective PE conversation about teaching, adaptation, and limited resources.
The episode centers on a thoughtful chat about primary and elementary PE, with Ryan guiding the conversation toward why Hugo Perez was a listener request and what he has picked up along the way.
Host Ryan Ellis interviews his 7-year-old daughter Penelope about her thoughts on primary school PE, revealing her perspectives on fitness, enjoyment, and how physical activity affects her mood.
Ryan Ellis interviews Nathan Walker, a PE lecturer and podcast host, about primary physical education, teacher training challenges, and innovative approaches like constraints-led teaching and meaningful PE.
Ryan Ellis welcomes Dan Wilson, a former primary teacher now working as a PE consultant with Beyond the Physical.
Ryan Ellis welcomes professor Aaron Beatley for a conversation about primary PE.
Ryan Ellis hosts Sam Horton, a PE and swimming lead based in the West Midlands, UK, on episode 244 of The PE Umbrella.
Ryan Ellis speaks with Jo Hume, the PE lead at the British School of Jakarta, about primary PE, student agency, and why "fun" and lifelong physical activity matter in school.
Ryan Ellis welcomes Professor Ash Casey to the PE Umbrella.
Ryan Ellis speaks with Faith Newton, the author of Inclusive PE for Send Children, about making primary PE more inclusive for neurodivergent and neurotypical learners.
Ryan Ellis welcomes James Crane under the umbrella for episode 249.
Ryan Ellis welcomes Gemma under the P.E.
Ryan Ellis welcomes Mo Jafar, Senior Lecturer in Sport, PE and Development at the University of East London, for episode 242 of The PE Umbrella.
Ryan opens by welcoming the guest many listeners said they wanted after he put the question out on social platforms.
The P.E.
Ryan opens with a look back at how far the podcast has come since 2015.
Ryan Ellis sits down with Ben Holden under the umbrella for a practical conversation about primary PE.
Episode 245 brings a primary school teacher under the umbrella for a chat about primary PE in Yorkshire.
Ryan Ellis speaks with Anna Shepard about primary PE, engagement, and the day-to-day realities of teaching a mixed group.
Ryan Ellis sits down with Lewis, deputy head at the British International School in Riyadh, for a thoughtful primary PE conversation.
Ryan Ellis interviews Dr.
Ryan Ellis interviews his 10-year-old son Oliver in episode 239 of The PE Umbrella Podcast, and Oliver says PE feels different from gymnastics because he wants space, freedom, and outdoor movement.