Physical Education

Intent

At Nutley CE Primary, we promote high expectation of participation within all PE, either during class sessions, after school clubs or tournaments outside of Nutley with other schools. Our aims are driven by the National Curriculum. Therefore, we aim to teach children to be confident to develop a broad range of physical activities and for our children to be physically active throughout their school week, including play times and lunchtime. We encourage children to take part in a range of competitive sports and activities and promote healthy and active lives throughout their school experience. We regularly take part in tournaments for Netball, Hockey and Tag Rugby, as well as being part of the Uckfield School Swimming Gala every year.

Implementation

At Nutley we are extremely lucky to have a large hall, a playground and substantial field which we use weekly. The field is used all year. We have an extensive range of equipment for all sports as well as a dedicated pavilion for storage and for cross-curricular outside learning opportunities and sports provision.

All classes have at least two sessions a week of PE. Each term teachers plan physical activities based on a two year rolling program.

Children learn specific skills, as individuals and with others in – Dance, Gymnastics and Games. In Years 3 and 4 children are taken to a local pool for a sequence of swimming lessons in differentiated groups.

Teachers use the ‘Nutley CE Primary School Physical Education Curriculum’ document to assist with planning units of learning on a two year rolling program, teaching specific, progressive skills taken the National curriculum. Teachers also have access to a school collection of step by step lessons (Val Sabin Teaching Manuals) for all age groups from EYFS to Year 6 for all areas of physical activity.

At Nutley we also regularly have professional coaches assist in PE teaching, as well as providing good quality professional development for staff. The coaches bring specific skills and plan for progression of these skills throughout all year groups.

Reception

In the EYFS children begin to explore gross motor skills within the Physical Development strands of the curriculum as well as exploring music and dance within Being Imagination and Expressive strands, through cross-curricular and specific PE learning.

Children at the expected level will:

Physical Development:

Negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and others.

Demonstrate strength, balance and coordination when playing.

Move energetically, such as running, jumping, dancing, hopping, skipping and climbing.

Being Imaginative and Expressive:

Perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and – when appropriate – try to move in time with music.

In Year 1 and 2

Master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities
Participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending
Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

In Year 3 and 4

Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
Use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke].
Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

In Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

Use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
Play competitive games, modified where appropriate [for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders and tennis], and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending
Develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics]
Perform dances using a range of movement patterns
Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.

Impact

Nutley children know the importance of keeping themselves physically fit and healthy. They have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports, including team games and develop their skills and knowledge, year on year. Some children will have represented their school in inter-school tournaments and galas. All children will understand and demonstrate what it means to be a ‘good sport’ and develop a ‘growth mind-set’ approach to winning and losing.

To see our Progression Grid for PE, click here.