Patterdale Physical Education Curriculum

INTENT

At Patterdale, we recognise and value the importance of Physical Education (PE) through a fun, inclusive, high-quality curriculum that inspires all pupils to succeed, whilst attaining optimum physical, emotional and social development and well-being.

By fully adhering to the aims of the national curriculum for physical education, we ensure that all pupils:

• develop confidence 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 and active lives
• have a love of being outdoors

Our PE curriculum enables pupils to develop and embed a wide range of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. We are also passionate about the need to teach pupils how to co-operate and collaborate with others as part of a team, alongside understanding fairness and the resilience to persevere; these are all pivotal life-long values.

TEACHING MIXED AGE CLASSES

Children are taught in mixed age classes. PE units are planned on a 2-year cycle, to meet the requirements of the national curriculum, revisit core concepts and ensure progression. When teaching a unit, teachers use formative assessment and the I Moves progression of skills document, to adapt their teaching, to build on solid foundations and fill any learning gaps.

CONTENT

At Patterdale, the PE curriculum is taught through the I Moves scheme of learning; in-line with the National Curriculum and built to maximise quality of learning and outcomes:

All lessons are progressive and time is built into the curriculum to allow key skills to be repeated, practised and refined as and when necessary.

Both classes have two hours of high-quality physical education every week. These are either taught by the class teacher and/or an external sports coach.

At Patterdale, PE lessons follow an important structure: warm-up and stretch; introduction of skill; practise of skill; application of skill; warm-down. This enables us to ensure that there is quality and consistency of teaching across the school.

Our children are all taught to swim at the local swimming pool in Penrith through a ten-week programme, which we run yearly in the Autumn Term. We feel that this is a vital skill for children to learn given the close proximity that most of our children live to the lake and rivers. Our Helvellyn class receive a yearly open water swimming lesson delivered by a local open water swimming coach. The children are also taught basic water safety during this yearly session.

At Patterdale, we offer a range of after-school sports clubs run by teaching staff, our sports coach and outside agencies. We regularly monitor club attendance and will encourage children who we feel would benefit most from additional activities.

We are passionate about inclusivity in sport. We currently have children who play for local football and rugby teams in Penrith, as well as the local cricket club. We also have children who are members of the local gymnastic club and a cheer-leading group. These children have come first in regional competitions down in Manchester.  Given our small numbers, all children are given the opportunity to represent Patterdale in inter-school competitions. We organise an inter-school cross-country race each year as well as our very own in school cross-country race.

Our school is located in one of the most beautiful places in the country, so we take full advantage of this by taking the children on Outdoor Adventurous Activities from Nursery up to Y6.  We work in partnership with local Outdoor Education Centres to provide the children with a progressive programme of activities which develops their physical and social skills.  As well as developing a love of where they live. The children in Helvellyn class take part in an annual indoor climbing training session and from this a team is selected to represent the school in the Eden Rock Climbing Competition.

Sport in the community is very important to us. The children have selected two local charities which they complete a fun run to raise money for. The local community helps marshal these events as well as some members running with the children.

ASSESSMENT & MONITORING

Throughout the year, pupils in Nursery -Y6 are assessed on their PE skills. Baseline and assessed lessons are planned as part of the I Moves program. Class teachers complete half-termly assessments for PE. This information informs future planning and is shared with parents (through the end-of-year school report).