St Erth P.E Curriculum Statement
‘Caring, Sharing, and Preparing for Life.’
Intent:
At St Erth Primary School, Physical Education is an integral part of our curriculum and we strive to create a culture which aims to inspire an active generation to enjoy PE, encourage each other and achieve. Thus laying the foundations for a lifetime of activity and physical and mental well-being. We provide a safe and supportive environment for children to flourish in a range of different physical activities which is essential in supporting their physical, emotional, spiritual, social and moral development. We aspire for children to be self-aware, confident and aspirational learners and through our PE curriculum children are supported to develop these qualities alongside resilience, determination and a growth mindset. At St Erth we offer a dynamic and varied program of activity to ensure that all children progress physically through a unique and fully inclusive PE curriculum. Our curriculum aims to improve the well-being and fitness of all children, not only through the sporting skills taught, but through the underpinning values and disciplines PE promotes. Through our curriculum children are taught fundamental movements involving balance and agility, which can be applied to all sporting contexts. Children are given continuous opportunities to apply these skills in practice through learning about and taking part in recognised sports in a variety of disciplines: net/wall games, invasion games, striking and fielding games, athletics, gymnastics and dance. All children participate in competitive sport which can be against themselves and others. We encourage children to transfer the school’s values and ethos to sporting and physical activity, ensuring that they aim to be the very best that they can be whilst demonstrating the school values at St Erth, preparing themselves for a lifetime of activity. We aim for all children to be physically active for sustained periods of time and to be able to make informed decisions to lead healthy and active lives. Therefore the school’s PE curriculum is not confined to weekly sessions but part of daily school routine. Swimming is an important life skill, particularly given our location, and we aspire for all children to leave primary school having met at least the minimum requirements of the National Curriculum, and learnt about safety in open water. Pupils at St Erth will also be taught how to be active in nature and take advantage of the natural resources they have around them to support the physical and mental well-being. Through development of the school grounds and links to our local area children will regularly engage in forest school activities and other outdoor and adventurous pursuits.
Implementation
PE at St Erth is delivered in 2 strands:
- Real PE – A child centred approach that systematically develops fundamental movements and skills, applicable in all sporting activities. To support developing these physical skills the scheme takes a holistic approach to developing children’s personal qualities with a focus on a different element each half term as follows: Cognitive, social, creative, physical, health and fitness, personal.
- In Key Stage 2 - A range of sporting activities including invasion games, net & wall games, striking and fielding games, gymnastics, dance, health and fitness, outdoor and adventure and swimming.
It is intended that a combination of these 2 strands, balanced appropriately for children’s age and stage of development, results in children receiving 2 hours of quality PE teaching each week. Both strands of the curriculum are enriched elsewhere in the school environment by creating opportunities for pupils to be more active and develop skills they have been taught. For example at lunch and breaktimes and through cross-curricular work. KS2 classes’ curriculum time in split between real PE and traditional sports. KS1 maintain a focus on real PE and developing the fundamental movement skills needed to take part in traditional sports successfully.
All pupils receive swimming tuition in every school year. Pupils in year 5/6 who are not meeting the curriculum standard are provided with booster sessions in the summer term.
The Long-Term planning for each class sets out the PE units which are to be taught throughout the year and ensures that the requirements of the National Curriculum are fully met. This is tracked by the PE Co-ordinator and used as handover for transition at the end of the academic year so that the new class teacher is aware of what the class has already been taught and to identify any areas that need further development.
Pupils progress is assessed against the Real PE frameworks throughout school and identified endpoints in the games curriculum in Key Stage 2.
Teachers use and adapt planning and resources to ensure lessons across years show progression.
Children are encouraged to participate in the varied range of extra-curricular activities. We provide inclusive and enjoyable clubs which increase children’s physical activity. Clubs are offered to both KS1 and KS2 children, occasionally Foundation Stage too. Clubs are led by the school and by professional coaches working in partnership with the school and local sports clubs.
Physical activity is embedded throughout the school day, with short sessions focusing on fundamental movements from the real PE curriculum and initiatives such as the daily mile.
Active travel is encouraged, pupils have the opportunity to take part in bikeability and balanaceability whilst at school and the school provides safe storage for bikes and scooters during the school day.
All pupils are encouraged to be active at lunch and break times. The school has invested in its environment to ensure there is ample opportunity for children to engage in active play. Opportunities for pupils to develop fundamental movement skills taught in the real PE element of the school’s curriculum are provided through access to demonstration videos and appropriate equipment.
Children are invited to attend competitive sporting events and festivals within the local area and beyond. This is an inclusive approach which endeavours to encourage not only physical development but also mental well-being. These events also develop teamwork and leadership skills and are very much enjoyed by children.
The school utilises ‘Real PE at Home’ to support parents in developing their children’s physical development and motivate pupils to manage their own development and work towards personal goals.
The school works with local sporting clubs, inviting coaches to deliver sessions in school. Parents and pupils are provided with pathways to access these clubs outside of school time and become involved in community sport. The school works with local: football, rugby, tennis, cricket, golf clubs and others to achieve this.
Impact
At St Erth Primary School, we ensure that our PE curriculum is progressive and allows children to develop fundamental skills and apply them to a variety of sports and activities, and we can demonstrate impact through our own Monitoring & Evaluation tool (TPAT CD Wheel). All children are provided with the necessary skills and given opportunities to demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best. Our pupils are physically active, and this has a positive impact on their learning in the classroom. Children understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle and understand the importance of regular exercise. We aspire for children to enjoy PE and develop a love of sport and physical activity which becomes part of their future life outside of primary school. Children can represent the school at sporting events from local to county level. Alongside this, we share sporting achievements both in and out of school in Celebration Assembly, so that we are promoting sports and activities, as well as celebrating all levels of success. We aim for all Year 6 pupils to leave school with the skills to competently swim at least 25m and have the skills to self-rescue in the water which are key life skills.
Curriculum mapping and skills progressions.
Curriculum maps and skills progressions for the real PE program delivered to all children can be found below.
Also found below is a curriculum map for our Games Curriculum in KS2.
Where year groups are taught in mixed age classes and skills progressions are separate, staff adapt provision to ensure all children receive the appropriate level of challenge and are able to make progress.
