Introduction: the changing context of physical education, Anne Williams. Part 1 The subject and the curriculum: the place of physical education in primary education, Anne Williams; physical education for the early years of schooling, Chris Rose; health related fitness for the primary school, Stuart and Grant Biddle; teaching games for understanding, Alan Asquith. Part 2 The child: some aspects of the exercise physiology of children, Craig Sharp; the child in the teaching-learning process, Rosie Connell. Part 3 Issues affecting physical education: children with special needs, Lilian Groves; girls and boys come out to play (but mainly boys) - gender and physical education, Anne Williams; physical education in a multi-cultural context, Anne Williams.