PE should provide the pathway by which children can expand their physical literacy, build confidence in themselves and develop attitudes and habits that will help to keep them happy and healthy throughout their lifetime. It should provide opportunities for fun, challenge and personal growth and allows children to explore new ways of moving, playing, interacting and learning.
Aims
At HJS, we aim to provide a curriculum that will allow children to develop a broad base of physical skills that they can apply to a wide range of sports and activities. We consider the practical aspects of PE alongside learning about the broader aspects of looking after our bodies and minds. Children learn how to adopt healthy lifestyles and how to develop their emotional intelligence. They are provided with opportunities to test and display their learning, both through team competition or individual challenges.
Objectives
The National Curriculum states that at KS2 children should:
- develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
- be physically active for sustained periods of time
- engage in competitive sports and activities
- lead healthy, active lives.
At Henleaze we strive to provide opportunity to:
- be excited and curious about sport and physical activity
- try new things and test our capabilities
- learn how to work in a team but also take on personal challenges
- enjoy being active
- learn about fair play, respect and resilience through competition
Planning and delivery
PE at HJS is taught in two weekly sessions: one taught by the class teacher and another delivered by SHINE (our sports-specialist external provider). Teacher-led sessions focus on areas such as dance, ‘mindful movement’, circuit training and general sports skills. We follow our own scheme of work, ensuring progression and variety across the year groups. SHINE teach sports-specific skills, tactics and rules of rugby, hockey, football, gymnastics, netball, cricket and athletics. The children work towards playing competitive games, revisiting these sports in subsequent years to deepen their knowledge and explore more complex movements. In year 3, two terms of swimming lessons are provided.
Cross-curricular links
Bringing physical activity into the wider curriculum provides another way in which children can find meaning and express themselves. We aim to be creative in how we do this: employing drama to describe settings in English, retelling the destruction of Pompeii in history, using body percussion in music lessons and learning about human physiology in science through exercise-based investigations being just a few examples.
Extra-curricular opportunities
At HJS, we work hard to provide our children with access to a broad range of competitive sporting opportunities and extra-curricular workshops. We have school teams taking part in city-wide cup competitions and leagues in netball and football, while working alongside partner schools to run our own inclusive, local tournaments and events. In year 5 and year 6, we aim to ensure all children can take part in exciting activities like climbing, canoeing and archery during their respective residential camps – introducing them to the challenges and rewards that the outdoors can offer.
Equal opportunities and inclusion
As part of our commitment to ensuring that HJS is a school where everyone belongs, we plan PE lessons to be inclusive of all children through differentiation of activities and outcomes, the adoption of sports and activities that offer greater accessibility to all and the use of adaptive equipment. Our aim is to provide enjoyment and meaningful learning opportunities for everyone, irrespective of physical ability or background.