Why Study PE?
“P.E. is about pupils learning about themselves, their capabilities, their potential and their limitations. It is the foundation of all sports participation. But it goes beyond the individual and understanding themselves – it’s learning how to work with and respect others.” Lucy Pearson, England cricketer and teacher.
“Our youth should also be educated with music and physical education” Aristotle “But as for you, be strong and don’t give up as your work will be rewarded” 2 Chronicles 15:7
Physical activity not only improves health, reduces stress and improves concentration, but also promotes correct physical growth and development. Exercise has a positive influence on academic achievement, emotional stability and interaction with others. Physical education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative, competitive and to face up to different challenges as individuals and in groups and teams. PE develops the children’s knowledge, skill and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing competence and confidence in a range of physical activities. We provide the broad and challenging programme of physical education we believe every child should have; with activities that are designed to be enjoyable, competitive, purposeful and regular.
Each child learns how to plan, perform and evaluate actions, ideas and performances to improve their quality and effectiveness. Through this process pupils discover their aptitudes, abilities and preferences, and make choices about how to get involved lifelong in physical activity.
Intent
At Theale Church of England Primary School, we will ensure that our high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. We provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect, which will lead to a lifelong belief that physical exercise and expertise have a positive effect on one’s wellbeing.
Impact
Children will:
- Develop skilful use of the body, the ability to remember, repeat and refine actions and to perform them with increasing control, co-ordination and fluency (acquiring and developing)
- Develop an increasing ability to select, link and apply skills, tactics and compositional ideas (selecting and applying)
- Improve observation skills and the ability to describe and make simple judgements on their own and others work, and to use their observations and judgements to improve performance (improving and evaluating)
- Develop an understanding of the effects of exercise on the body, and an appreciation of the value of safe exercising (knowledge and understanding of fitness and health)
- Develop the ability to work independently, and communicate with and respond positively towards others (working alone and with others)
- Promote an understanding of safe practice, and develop a sense of responsibility towards their own and others’ safety and well-being (applying safety principles)
Implementation
This will be achieved through high quality specialist teaching and using planned experiences that integrate all aspects of physical skill and knowledge required by the National Curriculum and beyond. At Theale Church of England Primary School children cover six areas of learning:
- Games
- Gymnastics
- Dance
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Outdoor & adventurous activities
The children will be taught to:
EYFS
- develop their co-ordination, control, and movement of their whole body.
- understand the importance of physical activity for good health.
- make healthy choices in relation to food and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe.
- show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements; move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space.
- handle equipment and tools effectively using fine and gross motor skills.
Key Stage 1
Children develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. They are able to engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations. Children are taught to:
- master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities
- participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending
- perform dances using simple movement patterns.
Key Stage 2
Children continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement. They enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success. Children are taught to:
- use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
- play competitive games, modified where appropriate (for example, cricket, tag rugby, football, hockey, netball, rounders and tennis), and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending
- develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance (for example, through athletics and gymnastics)
- perform dances using a range of movement patterns
- take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team
- compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.
Swimming
Each child will take part in a swimming programme in Year 4 and Year 6; support sessions are provided in Year 6 for any child who has not achieved the end of Key Stage statements.