Purpose of study

A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. It should 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. 

This Physical Education has been designed and created by stakeholders at St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School. It is a working document which - in line with Government and Local Authority documentation - has been tailored to reflect our school community and the vision of our school.

As a Catholic school, we believe that Christ is at the centre of everything that we do. Our ethos is driven by the Gospel values, where we encourage and guide the children in our care to be more like Jesus every day. Our School Mission Statement identifies that we are all unique and special, made in the image of Jesus Christ. It is through this that we recognise each child as a member of God’s family where they are valued, respected and cared for.

A child’s education and welfare is a tremendous responsibility. Given the privilege of sharing that responsibility with parents and family members, we hope that the partnership of home and school makes each child’s years with us happy and successful. This Policy aims to provide clear guidance for every member of our school community.

PE Intent:

At St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we ensure all children, irrespective of their special educational needs or disabilities, develop confidence and competence in a range of physically demanding activities. We aim to deliver a skills lead curriculum, which is meaningful, inclusive, educational and engaging. This is underpinned by our School Mission Statement and our core values as a school:

“Each one of us is special

Each one of us is unique

Because we are created by God’s love

May God’s love shine on our lives

As we care and share and learn together”

Through Physical Education, we are passionate to guide and support children to develop their knowledge and understanding of ‘learning to move’ and ‘moving to learn’, enabling children to discuss how to lead healthy and active lives. By providing our children with the building blocks to become physically literate young individuals, our children develop confidence, high levels of self-esteem and nature the love for staying active, resulting in developing healthy hearts and healthy minds.

Physical Education at St Anne’s is underpinned by our Gospel values. We encourage the children to use their God given skills and talents to excel in a range of sporting activities, providing an opportunity for each child to achieve their full potential.

The key aims of our curriculum are:

• To develop confidence and competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities

• All children are physically active for sustained periods of time

• To engage in competitive sports and activities, as well as strive to achieve personal best

• To lead healthy, active lives

All our children will also have the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in:

• Leadership (communication, tactics, refereeing, explaining rules, coaching)

• Evaluation (reflecting, analysing, improving)

• Responsibility (being fit and active, leading a healthy lifestyle)

The PE curriculum at St Anne’s is progressive, builds on prior learning and enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other areas of the curriculum. Engaging in PE, school sport and physical activities helps our pupils to maintain both physical and mental fitness, and helps develop their spiritual, moral, social, vocational and cultural development. Careful consideration is taken to ensure all pupils can access the curriculum in a whole class setting, as well as using personalised learning strategies in line with our inclusion policy.

Through the PE curriculum, pupils will develop their knowledge and skills from the following units;

• Fundamental Movement Skills through fundamentals, fitness and athletics

• Games through invasion, target, net and wall, striking and fielding

• Body Movement through yoga and gymnastics

• Outdoor Adventurous Activities

• Dance

• Swimming

By the end of EYFS, children will:

Have a good understanding of the importance of physical activity, having had opportunities to be active with one another and develop their co-ordination, control and movement.

By the end of KS1, children will:

Build on learning in EYFS by developing their fundamental movement skills to become increasingly competent and confident with basic movements, including running, jumping, throwing and catching. Children will also be able to take part in competitive and cooperative physical activities.

By the end of KS2, children will:

Be able to apply a broader range of skills, linking them to different actions and sequences of movement. Children will be able to evaluate and recognise their own successes across a wide range of skills and activities, including swimming and water safety. They will take part in competitive games, develop techniques and learn how to perform dances, as well as outdoor and adventurous activities.

Physical education is a vital and unique contributor to a pupil’s physical, mental and emotional health and development; even more so now in a time of increasing technology. Our PE curriculum ensures our pupils have experiences and opportunities to help them develop an appreciation and respect for physical activity and sport. Through well-planned, high quality PE teaching, both in the curriculum and as part of our extensive extracurricular provision on offer, we support the development of the whole child. Children develop the physical skills, as well as developing their social, emotional and thinking skills to ensure they develop confidence and competence to excel in a broad range of physically demanding activities, find enjoyment in sport, and are equipped to lead healthy, active lifestyles now and in the future.

PE Implementation:

At St Anne’s, the Get Set 4 PE scheme of work is used to supplement our bespoke curriculum, ensuring all domains of knowledge and skills are developed to achieve the National Curriculum aims. Children are encouraged to participate in physical activity throughout the day during active brain breaks, PE lessons, extracurricular clubs, outdoor learning, and special events.

The PE long-term plan contains full details of the learning expectations of PE across all Key Stages, highlighting a clear sequence and progression of knowledge and skills from EYFS – UKS2. In addition, our medium terms plans provide a detailed overview of the learning sequence to support our bespoke short-term plans. A progression document identifies the key knowledge and skills of each unit taught across the key stages. As pupils progress through each unit of work, key concepts will be explored and revisited to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and competence within PE. As part of our ‘moving and improving’ whole school initiative, at the end of each PE lesson, a child is award with our ‘moving and improving’ PE badge. This is to celebrate their continued efforts throughout the lesson to improve their knowledge and skills whilst staying active.

The emphasis of our PE curriculum is inclusion for all children regardless of their ability. PE lessons take place for two hours every week and are taught progressively across the year groups. Careful consideration is given to extending children’s learning and how it will be demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. All children have access to the PE curriculum through activities, resources and equipment being tailored appropriately for all children irrespective of their special education needs or disability. In addition, subject specific vocabulary and knowledge organisers are presented within each lessons to allow frequent retrieval of the knowledge and skills being taught in each unit of work.

To enhance our provision, the PE and Sports Premium funding is used to ensure our pupils have access to high quality PE, School Sport and Physical Activity provision. PE is taught by class teachers and supported by a PE Specialist, who provides class teachers with support within each PE lesson. Class teachers are also supported and provided with ongoing CPD by the PE specialist on the planning, delivery and assessment of PE throughout the year. With the PE specialist’s support, teachers gain increased self confidence and competence in teaching high quality and ambitious PE. As well as this, the PE specialist also provides invaluable CPD to support staff to ensure all children are provided with adequate support within PE lessons so all children can achieve the learning outcomes.

Formative and summative assessment is an integral part of the teaching process. Our formative assessment includes regular retrieval practice, lesson outcomes, interactive Q & A throughout each lesson to review children’s understanding and interpretation of their learning. PE standards are monitored through continuous assessment against year group objectives across the year allowing us to assess pupils’ ability, to ensure appropriate progress has been made and interventions are implemented if required. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an understanding of health and self-care and have developed their movement and handling skills by the end of the academic year.

A wide range of extracurricular clubs and School Games events and competitions are on offer throughout the year. Extracurricular clubs and events are available and accessible to all children in school. The implementation of the ‘Putting Children at the Heart of Movement’ initiative, enables us to identify and prioritise our least active pupils, allowing us to provide appropriate interventions to increase physical activity levels within KS2. In addition, there are different types of clubs and events that the children can attend, dependant on the child’s ability, need and confidence level. Events include: competition, personal best festival and inclusive events.

To support and promote the 6o active minutes within and beyond the school day, all children take part in our ‘moving and improving’ whole school initiative. The initiative involves all children to take part in an active break at the end of each lesson. Children complete a range of steps that are collated at the end of the week to generate a ‘step count’ across the whole school, which is celebrated as part of our whole school end of week achievements. In order to support and promote the 60 active minutes beyond the school day, active homework tasks are provided to children and families members.  This is celebrated on our weekly newsletter and upon the whole school PE display board. Implementation of the ‘moving and improving’ whole school initiative, allows frequent reinforcement to children, families and staff, of the importance and the benefits of staying active within and beyond the school day, as well as the importance of leading healthy and active lifestyles. The sports organising committee and play leaders are also in place to promote the 60 active minutes within the school day.

PE Impact:

The impact of learning is measured through children’s physical competence and ability, alongside their involvement, commitment, articulation and enjoyment in PE.  As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge and understanding of physical activity, an appreciation for sport and can articulate the importance of staying active through PE, school sports and physical activity opportunities. As well as this, children become responsible, respectful, resilient and highly motivated individuals who are equipped to lead healthy and active lifestyles, promoting lifelong participation. 

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Analysis of spending of PE and Sport Premium

• Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice)

• Governor monitoring with our PE and School Sport link governor

• Photo evidence of the children’s practical learning

• Lesson observations

• Learning walks and reflective staff feedback (teacher voice)

Characteristics of an Athlete

At  Saint Anne's, we are Athletes. We have…

• The ability to acquire new knowledge and skills exceptionally well and develop an in-depth understanding of PE.

• The willingness to practise skills in a wide range of different activities and situations, alone, in small groups and in teams and to apply these skills in chosen activities to achieve exceptionally high levels of performance.

• A keen interest in PE. A willingness to participate eagerly in every lesson, highly positive attitudes and the ability to make informed choices about engaging fully in extra-curricular sport.

• High levels of physical fitness.

• A healthy lifestyle, achieved by eating sensibly and exercising regularly.

• A healthy mind supported by doing physical exercise.

• The ability to remain physically active for sustained periods of time and an understanding of the importance of this in promoting long-term health and well-being.

• The ability to take the initiative and become excellent young leaders, organising and officiating, and evaluating what needs to be done to improve, and motivating and instilling excellent sporting attitudes in others.

• Exceptional levels of originality, imagination and creativity in their techniques, tactics and choreography, knowledge of how to improve their own and others’ performance and the ability to work independently for extended periods of time without the need of guidance or support.

• The ability to swim at least 25 metres before the end of Year 6 and knowledge of how to remain safe in and around water.