The Physical Education Curriculum
‘I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’
Michael Jordan
Inspire - The PE Curriculum at Spinney Hill
At Spinney Hill Primary School we know that Physical Education is an integral and key component of our broad and balanced curriculum. We know that well-structured and inclusive physical activity, games and sport need to be taught regularly, well and from an early age to ensure that children develop an enjoyment – if not love - of them, and, alongside RSHE, science and food technology, have the core skill, knowledge and understanding which will enable to maintain a good level of fitness throughout their adult lives. We also recognise the importance played by PE and physical activity in developing children’s general well-being and the fundamental role of team games in developing character education - the ability to participate, abide by rules, co-operate, play fairly and communicate effectively - in order that children grow into good-natured, critical and well-mannered teenagers and adults. PE lessons at Spinney hill are always taught in safe and supportive environment and are inclusive of all children irrespective of their needs or aptitude, and the focus is always on participating, learning and enjoying. This philosophy is extended to after-school sports provision where all children are welcome and where attendance is rotated to ensure all can participate. Similarly, we aim for the largest number of children possible to attend external sporting events and inclusion is based on enthusiasm, not sporting prowess. This is true of school teams; for example, players representing the school in football tournaments are regularly rotated to ensure that all have an experience of playing in competitions.
Support and Grow - How we teach PE
Our PE curriculum covers all 6 activity areas, including athletics, dance, games, gymnastics, outdoor adventure and swimming, and has been designed from Foundation up to Y6. It covers all the requirements of the national curriculum and children receive at least two hours, high-quality PE a week. In Years 3 and 4, part of this time is dedicated to swimming. PE is taught by specialist sports coaches and by class teachers. All lessons are supported by detailed lesson plans and lessons designed to sequentially and progressively develop children’s skills and knowledge in all areas taught.
PE in the EYFS
PE in the EYFS focuses on the development of children’s core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination, agility and gross motor skills through a wide variety of games and activities. These include:
All physical activities are based around developing children’s working FUNdamental movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing, catching, skipping, and hopping.
PE in Key Stage 1
PE in KS 1 is focused on developing FUNdamental movement skills, ABCs (agility, balance & coordination), the skills and rules of basic games, taking turns and being safe while active. Here the skills children have developed in the EYFS are carefully and sequentially developed with an extra level of challenge being incorporated into activities. For example, children have the opportunity to develop their balance and experience a great degree of personal challenge through a series of lessons on the riding and handling of balance bikes. As the fundamental skills are developed and embedded, so team games are introduced and children begin to focus on simple tactics for attacking and defending alongside developing their skills at cooperation and communication.
PE in lower Key Stage 2
PE in lower KS2 focuses on broadening children’s skills and knowledge in specific activities and games with an emphasis on developing specific, transferable skills and applying and developing them. Here an increased level of personal challenge is introduced and children are encouraged to begin to assess and evaluate their own performance, and to develop and build on this. Key to this is the development of resilience and perseverance, and children develop this though, for example, trial and error, practising routines and skills, and small sided, competitive games. They also develop broader understanding of the importance of physical exercise, the importance of warming up and cooling down, the need to follow rules and develop self-control, and how to use equipment and space safely. This creates firm connection to both the RSHE and science curricula.
PE in upper Key Stage 2
Across upper KS2, the range of games and activities is extended to broaden children’s understanding of the skills and rules needed to participate in specific activities, including personal and team challenges, to enable students to plan and develop tactics and strategies which they can apply to different competitive games. There is also a much greater focus on the development of both personal and team performance, and a key part of PE sessions involves teams and individuals reflecting on this and identifying areas for development which will facilitate improvement. Key to this is developing children’s leadership skills through leading parts of the warm up, officiating activities or taking on a leadership role. Alongside this, children develop their understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe whilst doing any sport or activity and the connection between participation in physical education, physical activity and sport, and physical and mental well-being.
Inclusion
All PE lessons are wholly inclusive. Children who have specific needs at Spinney Hill are fully involved in Physical Education. Where necessary, activities and equipment may be adapted, and the organisation of games and outcomes developed to take into account these needs. However, expectations for and during participation remain the same. Children who show a particular aptitude in PE or talent in a particular sport are challenged to perform at a higher level through developing their technique and overall ability by, for example, using their weaker hand or foot in games.
All children are particiate in a wide variety of extra-curriculuar clubs which take place throughout the school year, including the school's activity based breakfast club, and have the oppotunity to particpate in extra-curricular sports festivals and competitions with at least one of these occuring every week.
Achieve - How we ensure children are ready for the next stage in their learning
At Spinney Hill children are passionate about participating in PE and develop not only skills and knowledge around both competitive and non-competitive sport, but also an understanding of how to take responsibility for their own health and fitness. Children are assessed against our PE milestones throughout the year by our PE coaches, and the curriculum is amended regularly to take into account particular strengths or weaknesses and to address these to ensure that all children are well-prepared for the next stage of their physical education.