PE at Westmorland Primary School

The national vision is for “All pupils leaving primary school [to be] physically literate and with the knowledge, skills and motivation necessary to equip them for a healthy lifestyle and lifelong participation in physical activity and sport.”
A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

The national curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:
1.    Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.
2.    Are physically active for sustained periods of time.
3.    Engage in competitive sports and activities.
4.    Lead healthy, active lives.

Physical Education (PE) contributes to the overall education of all children by helping them to lead full and valuable lives through engaging in purposeful and high-quality activity. It promotes active and healthy lifestyles, physical skills, physical development and knowledge of the body in action. PE enables children to learn confidence, perseverance, team spirit, positive competitiveness and organisation. Children must engage in a programme of PE that encourages fitness and improves their strength. PE is an integral part of school practices allowing all children in the school to gain a sense of achievement and develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others.

INTENT:
At Westmorland, we aim to be MORE, learn MORE and apply MORE in every PE lesson. We aspire to deliver Memorable Learning and Experiences, whilst increasing Reading and Oracy skills as much as possible through PE.  We intend to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of Physical Education, so that they can perform with increasing competence and confidence in a range of physical activities. PE promotes an understanding in children of their bodies in action. It involves thinking, selecting and applying skills, and it promotes positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. Thus, we enable the children to make informed choices about physical activity throughout their lives.

We recognise the contribution of PE to the health and well-being of the children. We believe that an innovative, varied PE curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities will have a positive influence on the concentration, attitude and academic achievement of all our children. By creating a positive environment and by putting PE, sport and regular physical activity at the heart of school life, we are supporting and helping improve the physical health and emotional well-being of our children, for now and the future.

At Westmorland we are committed to providing a high-quality physical education curriculum that is inclusive to all pupils and inspires them to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. We provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health, well-being and fitness. We also provide opportunities for them to compete in sport and other activities to build character and help to embed values and transferable life-skills such as fairness and respect.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Our curriculum offers pupils a broad and balanced programme using Schemes of Work developed from a range of resources. Currently we offer 90 minutes at KS1 and 90 minutes at KS2.  This is supplemented by our ‘Active Lunchtime’ activities and a broad offer of active clubs beyond the school day, delivered by qualified Sport Coaches. The school has access to further INSET through the Stockport Schools Health, Activity, PE and Sport Alliance (SHAPES).

Our curriculum promotes physical development, knowledge and understanding in the Early Years Foundation Stage and at Key Stage 1 & 2, through six activity areas in line with the National Curriculum:

•    Dance
•    Gymnastics
•    Games
•    Athletics
•    Swimming
•    Outdoor and adventurous activities  

Lessons are blocked in units of work to promote greater depth of understanding, developing skills, contextual application of these skills and the ability to perform reflectively. Our progression of skills document and detailed knowledge organisers allows teachers to plan progressive and exciting lessons in a variety of purpose built environments. These include a large sports hall and field, running track, dance studio and MUGA. All learning starts with revisiting prior knowledge and making meaningful connections to aid metacognition. Staff model explicitly the subject-specific vocabulary, knowledge and skills relevant to the learning to allow them to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.

All lessons begin with a warm up where children can discuss the benefits of warming up prior to exercise using correct vocabulary. Teachers will then introduce new learning and model their expectations of this through demonstrations and the use of secondary resources. Children will be then expected to build upon their previous learning and apply new skills. In order to improve their performances further, children will be asked to evaluate their own and peer’s performances and identify strengths and areas to improve. A cool down will be carried out at the end of every lesson and the reasoning behind this will be discussed and explained. 

Assessments are carried out by teachers and the PE Coordinator. Children are levelled as either emerging, developing or secure in dance, gymnastics and games (including athletics and OAA) using Assessment milestones created through SHAPES and Progression of skills from Knowledge Organisers.  Assessment is carried out at the end of each half term.  It is a tool to inform future teaching and planning and is a record of pupil achievement.  Assessment for Learning is used during lessons.  Children are encouraged to evaluate their own and others performance and to realise the importance of sensitivity when assessing the performance of others.

At Westmorland, we provide extended provision for our children to further participate in sport and physical activity through our ‘active lunch time’. Qualified sports coaches provide a breadth of sporting opportunities to further engage children in physical activity. Activities currently on offer include:
•    Use of scooters
•    Football
•    Cricket
•    Hockey
•    Tennis
•    Dodgeball
•    Basketball

Zorbing, archery and boxing is to be introduced in the near future. We have also introduced Young Sport Ambassadors and Change 4 Life champions. Upper Key Stage 2 children attended training and now organise and lead structured games at break and lunch times across the whole school.

Further opportunities for children to be physically active have been introduced in other areas of the curriculum. Active English and Maths take place across the school and staff are encouraged to deliver fun and physical activities, where possible, in all subjects. We also run Forest schools for Key Stage 2 children and run the daily mile for all. Each class is allocated a time slot to carry out the ‘mile a day’ on our new running track each day. 

Children also participate in whole school sporting events such as Sports Day and are also given the opportunity to compete in inter and cross-school competitions. At Westmorland, we pride ourselves on implementing our MORE INTENT, and ensuring children have opportunities to experience visits, visitors and real life experiences. We immerse them with as many physical opportunities as we can to develop metacognition, understanding, fitness and well-being.

IMPACT:

The PE provision at Westmorland has allowed all children, regardless of their sporting ability, to participate in a variety of physical activities on a regular basis thus improving fitness and wellbeing. Memorable PE lessons has improved attitudes towards learning and there is a greater commitment to participation in them with increased competence and confidence. Children are now beginning to verbally explain the effects and benefits of physical activity, using the correct vocabulary and are becoming more aware of the importance of being physically active and making healthy lifestyle choices. 

Additional opportunities at break and lunch time have increased our school’s physical activity and we are now seeing an increase in engagement and enjoyment in sporting activities. There has also been a reduction in the number of lunchtime incidents and increased activity during these periods. Disengaged and least active children have been given greater opportunities to participate in high intensity lunchtime activities. Sports ambassadors and Change 4 Life Champions feel empowered to take on the responsibility of leading structured activities which has inspired other children to regularly participate in physical activity. These additional opportunities have also had a positive impact in the classroom; children appear to settle quicker and have increased concentration and commitment with a reduction in low-level disruptions. Their ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and communicate effectively is also improving.

Our extended provision has increased the number of children, including SEND, participating and competing in a wider range of sporting competitions and events. The introduction of the ‘Mile a Day’ has also contributed to the improvement in fitness and wellbeing, including mental health, of all children. Children with low baselines for moving and handling are given make progress and develop their fine and gross motor skills through a wealth of opportunities at our school.

The impact of what we desire to achieve at Westmorland is evident throughout children’s enjoyment and participation within PE. We have been awarded many accolades for our commitment to High quality PE, Participation and Inclusion, Sporting competitions, Clubs links and Leadership and volunteering.