Physical Education (PE) is the planned, progressive learning that takes place in our school curriculum, which is delivered to all learners (from Nursery, through to Y6). PE involves learning to move (i.e. becoming more physically competent) and moving to learn (i.e. learning through movement, a range of skills and understandings beyond physical activity such as co-operating with others). The context of the learning is physical activity, with children experiencing a broad range of activities, including sport, gymnastics and dance.

Physical Education (PE) Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Healey Junior, Infant and Nursery School, we believe that Physical Education plays a vital role in developing healthy, confident and active learners. Our PE curriculum is designed to promote physical competence, resilience, teamwork and a lifelong commitment to health and wellbeing.

Through high-quality physical education, learners develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to lead active lifestyles and make informed choices about physical activity, health, hygiene and fitness.

We aim to ensure that all learners:

• Develop physical literacy through the acquisition of fundamental movement and multi-skills.
• Build competence, control, coordination and agility across a range of physical activities.
• Understand the importance of physical activity in maintaining long-term health and wellbeing.
• Develop confidence to participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities.
• Experience enjoyment, challenge and success in physical education.
• Develop teamwork, cooperation, communication and leadership skills.
• Understand and demonstrate fairness, respect and sportsmanship in competitive situations.
• Develop water safety awareness and the ability to swim at least 25 metres by the end of Year 6.
• Build resilience, perseverance and self-belief through physical challenge.
• Lead and participate in active, healthy lifestyles both now and in the future.

Learners are provided with opportunities to experience a broad and balanced range of physical activities, including gymnastics, dance, athletics, swimming, invasion games and racket sports. Through our ambitious curriculum, learners will know more, remember more and be able to do more as they progress through school.

Implementation

At Healey, PE is taught in line with the National Curriculum for Physical Education, ensuring that all learners:

• Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.
• Are physically active for sustained periods of time.
• Engage in competitive sport and physical challenges.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of health and fitness.
• Lead active and healthy lifestyles.

PE is taught as a weekly curriculum lesson and is also embedded across other areas of learning where appropriate. Lessons are carefully sequenced to ensure progression of skills, knowledge and understanding across all year groups.

Teaching focuses on the development of fundamental movement skills, which are progressively refined and applied across a range of sporting contexts. Learners are given opportunities to practise, refine and apply skills in increasingly challenging and competitive environments.

Teaching and Learning Opportunities

Learners experience a wide range of physical education activities, including:

• Team games (invasion, striking and fielding, net and wall games)
• Gymnastics
• Dance
• Athletics
• Outdoor and adventurous activities
• Swimming and water safety

Lessons promote high levels of physical activity, ensuring learners are engaged and active for sustained periods of time.

Learners are encouraged to:

• Develop and apply physical skills with increasing control and coordination.
• Understand tactics, rules and strategies within games.
• Work collaboratively and independently.
• Evaluate and improve their own and others’ performance.
• Develop leadership skills through structured opportunities.
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Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

We provide a wide range of enrichment opportunities to promote engagement in physical activity beyond the curriculum. Learners are encouraged to take part in after-school clubs and activities such as:

• Multi-sports
• Football
• Rugby
• Dance
• Dodgeball
• Boxing
• Outdoor learning activities

Learners also participate in competitive sporting events, festivals and inter-school competitions. These experiences help to develop teamwork, resilience and pride in achievement while promoting enjoyment and engagement in physical activity.

Swimming is a key component of our curriculum. Learners in Key Stage 2 participate in structured swimming programmes, with a focus on developing confidence, competence and water safety. By the end of Key Stage 2, learners are expected to be able to swim at least 25 metres and understand how to stay safe in and around water.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

Our PE curriculum is inclusive and ensures that all learners can participate, succeed and progress. Teaching is adapted to meet individual needs, ensuring that all learners experience challenge, support and success regardless of starting point or ability.

Impact

The impact of our PE curriculum is reflected in learners’ physical confidence, enjoyment of physical activity and understanding of the importance of health and wellbeing.

As learners progress through school, they develop increasing competence, confidence and creativity in physical movement. They are able to apply skills across a range of activities and understand how to improve performance through practice, feedback and reflection.

By the end of Key Stage 2, learners will:

• Demonstrate competence in a wide range of physical activities.
• Apply fundamental movement skills with control, coordination and confidence.
• Understand the importance of regular physical activity for health and wellbeing.
• Participate confidently in competitive and cooperative activities.
• Show respect, fairness and sportsmanship in all physical education contexts.
• Understand basic principles of tactics, rules and strategies in games.
• Swim competently and confidently over at least 25 metres and understand water safety.

Physical Education contributes significantly to learners’ personal development, including resilience, teamwork, leadership, confidence and self-discipline. Learners leave Healey with a positive attitude towards physical activity and a strong foundation for lifelong participation in sport and healthy living.

The impact of the PE curriculum is monitored through lesson observations, pupil voice, assessment of skills progression, participation in competitions and enrichment activities, and curriculum reviews. These processes ensure that all learners receive a high-quality PE experience.

Physical Education in the Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Physical Development is a prime area of learning and is essential for learners’ overall development and wellbeing.

Physical development is focused on two key areas:

• Gross motor skills
• Fine motor skills

Nursery

In Nursery, learners develop fundamental movement skills such as balancing, climbing, running, jumping and coordination. They are provided with opportunities to use a range of equipment, including scooters, tricycles and balls, to develop control and confidence in movement.

Learners begin to develop awareness of space, turn-taking and cooperation, and are encouraged to use their physical skills in a variety of play-based contexts. Independence is supported through routines such as dressing and undressing and managing personal needs.

Reception

In Reception, learners continue to refine and develop their fundamental movement skills. They build strength, balance, coordination and agility through a wide range of structured and play-based experiences.

Learners progress towards moving with increasing control, fluency and confidence. They are given opportunities to use large and small apparatus safely and effectively and to develop their ability to work individually and collaboratively.

By the end of the Early Learning Goals, learners are expected to:

• Move confidently and safely in a range of ways, negotiating space and obstacles.
• Demonstrate strength, balance and coordination in movement.
• Engage in physical activity with increasing control and fluency.
• Show awareness of others when moving and playing.

Physical development is closely linked with other areas of learning, including Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Expressive Arts and Design. Learners are encouraged to develop independence, resilience and perseverance, understand the importance of physical activity for health, and express themselves through movement, dance and music.

These early experiences provide strong foundations for future learning in Physical Education and support learners in becoming active, confident and healthy individuals.

Our Lead Teacher for PE is Mr. Johnson.