Our Physical Education Curriculum: Let your light shine

Curriculum Intent

At Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE 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 one another and achieve. We provide a safe and supportive environment for children to shine 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 adopt a positive mindset and believe that anything can be achieved with a positive mindset, determination and resilience.

At Waltham we offer a dynamic and varied programme of activity to ensure that all children progress physically through a unique and fully inclusive PE curriculum delivering on our commitment of at least 60 active minutes per week. Our curriculum aims to improve the well-being and fitness of all children, not only through the sporting skills taught, but through the underpinning of our school values which PE promotes.

We aim to deliver high quality teaching and learning opportunities that enable all children to achieve their personal best. Our teachers are trained to use Get Set 4 PE and use it on a termly basis for assessment. Transition is a key time for children and we ensure that we provide support to our Year 2 children as they move into KS2 and Year 6 children before they move to secondary school. Waltham also aims to create opportunities for our children to be inspired and take responsibility for sport across the school both in planning and delivery.

All children participate in competitive sport which can be against self and / or others. We ensure that all competitive opportunities have positive values at their heart to enable all children to build competence and confidence when competing. We also focus our competitive schedule to match the local area competition schedule and provide a competitive pathway from our PE and Dance lessons. Swimming is also an important life skill and we aspire for all children to leave primary school having met at least the minimum requirements of the National Curriculum. 

We encourage children to transfer the school vision to sporting and physical activity, ensuring that they aim to be the very best that they can be whilst demonstrating the school vision of ‘Let your light shine’. 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, thus embedding life-long values.

Implementation

• PE at Waltham provides challenging and enjoyable learning through a range of sporting activities including invasion games, net & wall games, striking and fielding games, gymnastics, dance and swimming.
• This academic year, Waltham is working to achieve the Youth Sport Trust’s Gold School Sport Mark.
• The Head of School and Sport’s Coordinator carry out termly observations of PE and Dance lessons to ensure delivery of our curriculum is consistent and of high-quality.
• Pupils participate in 2 high-quality PE lessons each week (including a dance lesson), covering one or two different sports/ skills focuses each half term.
• Children are encouraged to participate in the varied range of extra-curricular activities. We provide inclusive and enjoyable clubs which increases children’s physical activity. Clubs are offered to Foundation, KS1 and KS2 children. This is tracked using Get Set 4 PE.
• Children are encouraged to stay active at break times and can access a variety of equipment to use and our sport leaders supported by sports coordinator deliver active lunchtime sessions.
• Physical activity is embedded throughout the school day through initiatives such as BBC Supermovers, Just Dance and Go Noodle.
• All children take part in our annual competitive and fun sport’s festival.
• Waltham work in partnership with our family of schools to create competitive opportunities against other schools.
• Waltham are aiming to focus on at least cross country running, football and increasing female participation over the next academic year.
• 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.
• Our sport’s teams mentor other children who are competing for the school.
• 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 assessed at the end of each term and tracked by the PE Coach and 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.
• Teachers are supported in the use of Get Set 4 PE for assessment and monitoring purposes and PE attainment is tracked termly.
• Children are supported by Leicestershire and Rutland Sport who provide training for KS2 Sport Leaders who in turn provide active lunchtime sessions.
• We work in partnership with Leicestershire and Rutland Sport who provide additional sporting opportunities each year.
• Children can experience at least 1 inspirational sporting visitor or visit per year to inspire and engage all children.
• The PE team work with the staff to help develop and shape the PE curriculum.
• The school works in partnership with local sports clubs including Leicester City, Leicester Tigers, Leicester Riders Foundation and others to offer active sessions to all children in school or to provide enhanced PE provision for all children.

Impact

At Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE 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. All children are provided with the necessary skills and given opportunities to demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.  We aim to achieve the Gold Standard School Sport Mark and ensure our standards are consistently high.

Our pupils are physically active thanks to the Daily Mile and active breaktimes, and this has a positive impact on their learning in the classroom as monitored by our pupil survey. Children understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle and understand the importance of regular exercise both within and outside of school. We aspire for children to enjoy PE and dance 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 have trained sport leaders and our school council input into our curriculum. Each week we share sporting achievements both in and out of school in our Celebration Assembly, so that we are promoting sports and activities, as well as celebrating all levels of success. Termly celebrations such as Christmas plays / concerts, summer performances and Maypole events showcase the high standard of dance that the children achieve. 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. Achievements wherever possible are also celebrated in the local press, in our newsletters and here on our website.