Physical Education

What is the vision for PE at The Phoenix Primary School and Nursery?

Intent

Our vision is for all children to experience excellent physical education, school sport and physical activity that will lead to life-long participation.

Physical Education develops pupils’ physical competence and confidence and their ability to use these to perform a range of activities.

Via a broad and balanced curriculum, our PE Scheme of Work ensures that all pupils develop the fundamental skills and competence to excel in a wide range of physical activities in a safe and supportive environment.

A high-quality PE curriculum will develop physical literacy and will allow pupils to learn about themselves, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, self-expression and concepts such as fair play and respect. There will be ample opportunity for children to develop their self-confidence in a variety of challenging contexts.

Our intent is:

• To provide opportunities to increase children’s self-confidence through an ability to manage themselves successfully in a variety of situations.
• To provide children with opportunities to take part in a wide range of sports activities, which are carried out in a safe and supportive environment, where effort and hard work, as well as success, is celebrated, and enjoyment and working together as a team is promoted.
• To teach pupils to think in different ways to suit a wide variety of creative, competitive and challenging activities.
• To teach children 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 in lifelong physical activity.
• To offer a range of opportunities for all pupils to participate in intra-school sport through the delivery of a house program of activities, along with opportunities for as many children as possible to participate in inter-school sporting competitions and experience a range of sports.
• To provide opportunities to be physically active throughout the school day.
• To make children aware that physical fitness is strongly linked to mental wellbeing.
• To learn about sports and other physical activities from a range of different cultures from around the world.

Finally, PE is seen as a discipline that is open to all; regardless of ability, gender, cultural background or ethnicity.

How is this vision for PE to be achieved?

Implementation

Children who take part in PE lessons at the school will:

• Be committed to PE and sport, value it and make it part of their lives – both in and out of school.
• Develop a knowledge and understanding of what they are trying to achieve in PE and how to go about doing it.
• Understand that PE and sport are an important part of a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Gain self-confidence by participating in PE and sport.
• Practise the skills and techniques they need to take part in PE and sport both in school and in the wider community.
• Take part in a wide range of competitive, creative and challenge-type activities, both as individuals and as part of a team or group.
• Analyse, evaluate and make appropriate decisions for themselves.
• Show a desire to improve and achieve to the highest levels in relation to their own abilities and potential.
• Develop stamina, suppleness, strength and speed to enable them to become lifelong participants in sport and exercise.

How does the school know if the PE curriculum has been effective?

Impact

Firstly, children who have followed the school’s PE curriculum will be thoroughly equipped to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. Furthermore, children will not only have developed physical skills, but will also have learnt about themselves, the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle, self-expression and concepts such as fair play and respect. In addition, children will have developed a range of important cognitive skills, such as decision making and analysis, and social skills such as teamwork and communication.

Finally, children will have developed an awareness of the significance and importance of sport within the culture of the UK and within other cultures worldwide.

Assessment: As the children move through the school, knowledge and skills are built upon, and learning takes place sequentially. Our curriculum is designed in a way that enables the teachers to have the flexibility to ensure that the children develop knowledge and skills through the use of a wide range of sports. By implementing a monitoring and reviewing assessment system of PE, we can measure the impact and progress of the quality and provision within our school, which will lead to overall whole school improvement.

How climate change has an impact on PE

Climate change has a number of impacts on the world today and particularly in the future. It can also present challenges in a range of sports activities. Alongside other school subjects, PE plays an important part in understanding climate change in-depth and building a climate-friendly world. It is important for the necessary adjustments to be made with regards to extreme weather conditions.

During extremely hot days, teaching staff will ensure that children have the necessary protection including sunscreen, water and sun hats. An effort will be made to ensure that PE lessons do not take place during the hottest times of the day and where possible will be conducted in shaded areas.

During extremely cold days, teaching staff will ensure that children have the appropriate kit and if the temperature is too cold outside, PE lessons will be conducted in the halls.