PE
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Physical Education curriculum at Sylvester Primary Academy aims to develop the pupils’ physical education knowledge, skills and capabilities; whilst also nurturing their mental, emotional and social wellbeing. For example, through our PE curriculum, we develop the children’s co-operation and collaboration skills; whilst promoting the values of fairness and equity of play.
Our PE programme of study provides an engaging and challenging curriculum which incorporates a variety of sports and physical activities to ensure all children develop the confidence, tolerance and the appreciation of their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses. This curriculum enhances both the children’s physical development whilst also fostering a positive attitude towards physical activity.
We believe that an innovative, varied PE curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities have a positive influence on pupils’ concentration, attitude and academic achievement. We provide opportunities for all children to engage in extra-curricular activities before, during and after school, in addition to competitive sporting events. This is an inclusive approach which endeavours to encourage not only physical development but also well-being.
We aim to ensure all students leave the school possessing the skills, motivation and knowledge to enjoy a lifelong engagement with sport and physical activity. We also have life skills as a central part of our PE curriculum. For example, we strive to ensure that all children are competent swimmers by the end of Y6. Ultimately, we believe that our broad PE curriculum will allow students to develop their love of movement and sport well beyond their time with us.
HOW WE TEACH PE
At Sylvester Primary Academy, Physical Education is taught in accordance with the programmes of study set out in the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.
All teachers teach the PE topics outlined in the long term plan for PE. These topics cover a wide variety of sports and sporting disciplines. Teachers are provided with detailed weekly lesson plans for each PE topic. Each class participates in two hourly PE sessions each week. One PE lesson each week is taught by the school’s qualified sports coach. The other PE lesson is taught by the class teacher, often in partnership with the school’s qualified sports coach. All lessons involve a warm-up, main activity and then a cool down session. Lessons involve individual, small group and team activities. Videos, demonstrations and pictures provide visual supports for children. Discussions around the importance of, and benefits of, physical exercise form a key part of PE lessons with the aim of developing the children’s physical literacy.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEWS
Please click here to view our long term whole school overview for Physical Education.
Please click here to view our long term PE plan for Nursery
SEND ADAPTATIONS
PE lessons at Sylvester are fully inclusive and aim to meet the specific, individual needs of all children across the school. We understand the importance of PE and physical activity to the development of children and thus aim to ensure that children with SEND at Sylvester are fully engaged PE lessons. Lessons will incorporate many of the following to help SEND children reach their full potential in PE: differentiated teaching strategies, targeted adult support or the adaptation of PE equipment. Teachers use a wide variety of differentiation and pedagogical strategies to help achieve full inclusivity. An example of how we help children with specific cognitive and learning needs may be through the use of visual PE prompts and demonstrations. Children with communication or interaction needs will benefit from vocabulary cards and succinct instructions. Children’s physical and sensory needs may be met through the use of larger working areas, sponge balls, larger rackets/bats or larger goals. Social and emotional needs will be met through strategies such as: visual timetables and objectives; private changing areas; and bespoke pupil groupings for PE activities.
CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT
The children’s interaction with physical activity is not just confined to PE lessons. We offer our pupils an extensive range of opportunities to get active across the school day.
The school’s environment offers the children the opportunity to participate in physical activity during playtime and lunchtime (football cages, basketball hoops, climbing frames, Daily Mile track, etc). We offer the children regular opportunities to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular sporting activities each half term. Many of our extra-curricular clubs are chosen by the pupils through PE Pupil Voice Surveys. Through our partnership with Knowsley Schools Sports Partnership (KSSP), our pupils are also offered regular opportunities to participate in inter-school competitive sporting events. We also promote intra-school competitions regularly throughout the academic year and this concludes with a Sports Week in summer and Sports Day event.
