Implementation
Our PE lessons are planned using the Get Set 4 PE platform, which aligns with our core values, our whole child approach to PE and the objectives laid out in the National Curriculum. Get Set 4 PE is planned so that progression is built into the scheme which ensures our children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school from Nursery to Year 6. The curriculum planning in PE is carried out in three phases (long-term, medium-term and short-term). The long-term plan maps out the PE activities covered in each term during the key stage. The PE subject leader works this out in conjunction with teaching colleagues and children in each year group to create a broad and balanced curriculum that is exciting for our children to learn through.
Our medium-term plans give details of each unit of work for each term. These provide an overview of the unit, links to other areas of the National Curriculum and assessment criteria for that unit. The associated short-term lesson plans provide opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in each activity area. The lessons are accompanied by supporting resources including skills videos. Teaching points appear throughout to help teachers with their subject knowledge and differentiation tasks provide activities with simple changes to challenge all children. Lesson objectives and outcomes are shared with the children so they can measure their success and identify next steps.
We encourage the physical development of our children in the Nursery and Reception classes as an integral part of their work. As these classes are part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the physical development of the children to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five years of age. We encourage the children to develop confidence and control of the way they move, and the way they handle tools and equipment. We give all children the opportunity to undertake activities that offer appropriate physical challenge, both indoors and outdoors, using a wide range of resources to support specific skills.
Children participate in two high-quality PE lessons each week, covering two sporting disciplines every half term. A timetable showing when each class’ sessions are is displayed in the staffroom. PE is taught by class teachers and HLTAs. All relevant staff receive C.P.D. in light of an annual audit. Where PE specialist coaches are used, they work alongside the class teacher to develop the teacher’s skills and ensure for high quality teaching and learning. Newly Qualified staff attend courses to upskill and observe others.
In EYFS and Key Stage One, children are given opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. Children engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities such as dance, gymnastics, yoga and master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching. Physical Literacy is delivered in EYFS by trained staff and used as an intervention in KS1. Balanceability is undertaken annually in EYFS and KS1.
In KS2, children have an indoor and outdoor session per week (weather permitting); where they 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. Children evaluate and recognise their own success. Fitness units are taught to encourage children to be physically active and set personal bests. Sports include: dance, gymnastics, tag rugby, basketball, football, High 5 netball, hockey, tennis, kwik cricket, tri-golf and handball, as well as athletics, orienteering and yoga. All Year 5 children are given the opportunity to complete the Bikeability program. Two residential trips are offered to promote outdoor adventurous activities off-site: these include Y4-5 either Lea Green or Whitehall and Y6 trip to the Isle of Wight.
On entry to Whitwell Primary School, each child is allocated a house team (Blue, Red, Green or Yellow). The children remain in this house team for their duration at the school. These groups are used in PE lessons to encourage intra-competition. They are also used for Sports Days and sports events.
PE is rarely cancelled. The school values regular and frequent lessons to develop children’s skills and abilities. In the event of weather conditions making it unsuitable to complete the activity planned, alternative arrangements would be made. These include class-based activities or rescheduling the activity for another day. If a suitable indoor space is available, the activity could be taught inside with moderation or adaption, still allowing the learning intentions to be achieved.
Currently Upper KS2 are given the opportunity to swim at the Arc Leisure Centre. They swim all year until they achieve the national expected 25m. We use the Primary PE and Sport Premium Funding to offer catch-up sessions in the Summer for those who have still not yet met the national expectation of 25m. We aim to use the Primary Sports Premium to allow children in Lower KS2 to go swimming in future years.
PE is used by the whole school as a catalyst for wider learning. It makes an active contribution to children’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. Skills such as evaluation, self-reflection, cooperation, negotiation, speaking & listening and resilience are developed. Major sporting events are planned into the curriculum including: The World Cup, Olympic Games, Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Whole school events such as National Fitness Day, Sports Relief and Stand up Derbyshire give opportunities for all to be physically active for sustained periods of time.
We aim to develop leaders at Whitwell Primary School and every year we train a group of children to be sports leaders. They help to organise intra sport activities. They are timetabled to lead lunchtime activities with both key stages.
Pupils are able to access a broad offer of school sport activities as an extension of the curriculum. Pupils regularly participate in festivals of sport and multi-skills activities and compete against each other and other schools. A wide range of extra-curricular school clubs are available and, where possible, quality coaches from community clubs are used to provide strong school links to community opportunities; these include: SENsports, Whitwell FC, Whitwell Cricket Club; Boogie Bounce, Worksop Gymnastics Club, Worksop Town FC, Mansfield Town Football in the Community, Barlborough Links Golf Club; Mansfield Giants Basketball; Arc Leisure Centre and Bolsover District Council and Tennis 4 All.
School and individual sporting success is celebrated weekly in celebration assemblies, on the school sport webpage and in the termly newsletter.