Physical Education

at Sawley Junior School

February 2023 Ofsted Report Included:

They enjoy using the equipment and playing games with support from the Year 6 mini leaders.

The provision for pupils’ wider development is a strength of the school. Leaders plan the programme of clubs and activities carefully. Pupils learn ways to stay mentally healthy. Pupils learn to keep themselves and others safe. For example, they learn how to stay safe online and ride their bicycles safely.

Intent

What do we want SJS children to learn?

The intent of Sawley Junior School’s Physical Education curriculum is to inspire all children to succeed and excel in physically demanding activities and competitive sport. Physical Education will provide opportunities for children to become physically confident and support their overall health and fitness. 

Children are offered opportunities to compete in sport and other activities, in order to build character and help to embed the school visions of ‘respect for all’, ‘working well together’ and ‘try my best aim high’. 

Through Physical Education, we aim to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing confidence and competence in a range of physical activities.

Children are offered opportunities to learn about themselves, the importance of a healthy active lifestyle, self-expression and concepts such as fair play and respect.  We aim to develop a range of important cognitive skills such as decision making and analysis, and social skills such as teamwork and communication.  We support our children to develop their character and independence and know how to keep physically and mentally healthy.

We strive to ensure that the children’s experience of Physical Education is positive and motivating and that they have the knowledge and skills to lead a healthy lifestyle in the future.

The National Curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
• are physically active for sustained periods of time
• engage in competitive sports and activities
• lead healthy, active lives.

Implementation

The curriculum is planned to ensure children have the opportunity to learn, practise and refine new skills through a variety of different sports such as:  invasion games, basketball, hockey, football, gymnastics, dance, tennis and Pilates. Each child receives 2 hours of PE curriculum a week where sessions are taught by the class teacher or AM Sports coaching staff.  Lessons are inclusive for all learners. The school scheme to support the teaching of PE is Imoves.  Through Imoves, all children have the opportunity to develop 4 key focus areas: 

• Doing
• Thinking
• Feeling
• Enjoying
•  

Each of these 4 areas are further broken down into skills which children practise and build on each year.  As an example, in Games, the ‘Doing’ focus is: moving, running/jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, passing/receiving and bat/racket skills.  In Pilates, the ‘Feeling’ focus is: reviewing and assessing self and others, understand the benefits of participating in Pilates, communication, confidence and self-esteem. 

As part of the PE provision, targeted year groups have the opportunity to attend swimming lessons at the onsite swimming pool where they are taught by L Miles swimming teacher.  Year groups rotate each term; groupings of beginners, middle and higher ability are allocated with lessons adapted to suit their skill level.  Each lesson lasts ½ an hour with a warm up, main activity and plenary.  During that term, the swimming sessions take the place of one of the PE lessons. Swimming lessons incorporate floating as part of water safety. 

In addition to PE lessons, we provide opportunities for children to access extracurricular clubs either in the morning, at lunchtime or after school.  These aim to provide breadth to the curriculum and are mainly offered free of charge - outside agencies and staff provide these.  Clubs include: Zumba, kickboxing, girls/boys football, multi-sports and Tai Chi.  We aim to provide an ‘Active Blast’ at least once a week.    All staff are supported by the Senior Leadership team and the PE Subject Leader.  In addition, ONE Academy Trust subject leaders hold cluster meetings half-termly working together to meet the aims and visions of the Trust.  Furthermore, we continue to be part of the Erewash School Sport Partnership/School Games and benefit from activities and competitions organised through them.