Middle Street Primary School

PHYSICAL EDUCATION POLICY

Aims and objectives

At Middle Street Primary School our aim in teaching physical education is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing competence and confidence in a range of physical activities. These include dance, games, gymnastics, swimming, athletics and outdoor adventure activities. Physical education promotes an understanding in children of their bodies in action. It involves thinking, selecting and applying skills and promotes positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. Thus we enable them to make informed choices about physical activity throughout their lives.

The aims of PE in our school are:

• to develop a range of physical skills;
• to develop stamina and strength;
• to express ideas in dance form;
• to develop an appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of movement;
• to develop an appreciation of fair play, honest competition and good sportsmanship;
• to learn how to co-operate with each other and work successfully in pairs, groups and teams,
• to develop physical and mental co-ordination, self control and confidence;
• to develop self-confidence through the understanding of one’s own capabilities and limitations, and how to evaluate their own success
• to motivate each child so that they acquire a lifelong interest in all aspects of PE and recognise the importance of living and maintaining a healthy life.

Entitlement

All children are entitled to a progressive, challenging and comprehensive Physical Education programme which embraces the statutory orders of the National Curriculum and which takes account of individual interests and needs.

At Middle Street there are at least two hours per week of high quality Physical Education for children of both Key Stages. This may vary depending on the time of year and special events.

Middle Street Primary School also provides a range of PE related extra curricular activities at break time, lunchtime and the end of the school day. The activities, which range from clubs to competitive fixtures against other local schools, encourage children to further develop their skills and work towards achieving 5 hours of high quality PE a week.

Equal Opportunities

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people that little else has…….. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers.” Nelson Mandela

All children at Middle Street are provided with equal opportunities to participate in a curriculum in which there are no barriers to access. When necessary reasonable adjustments are made to ensure all children can participate in PE lessons and other physical activities in school, which aim to provide quality experiences that challenge children.

Teaching and Learning

At Middle Street we use a variety of teaching and learning styles in PE lessons. Our principal aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding and we do this through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual/group activities.

P.E. Curriculum planning

A range of resources are used to support the teaching of PE at Middle Street and there is a planned progression built into the scheme of work, so that the children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school.
The physical education scheme of work covers gym, dance, athletics, games, swimming and outdoor & adventurous activities. The latter takes place through a residential weekend away in Year 6.

Year Group	Autumn term		Spring Term		Summer Term
Year Group	1^st half	2^nd half	1^st half	2^nd half	1^st half	2^nd half
Reception	Dance	Games	Gym	Gym	Games	Athletics
Reception	Gym	Dance	Games	Dance	Dance	Gym
Year 1	Games	Games	Games	Games	Games	Athletics
Year 1	Gym	Dance	Gym	Dance	Gym	Games
Year 2	Games	Games	Games	Games	Games	Athletics
Year 2	Gym	Dance	Gym	Dance	Gym	Dance
Year 3	Games	Games	Games	Dance	Athletics	Athletics
Year 3	Games	Dance	Gym	Gym	Games	Swim
Year 4	Games	Games	Games	Dance	Athletics	Athletics
Year 4	Games	Dance	Gym	Gym	Swim	Games
Year 5	Games	Games	Swim	Swim	Games	Games
Year 5	Dance	Dance	Gym	Gym	Athletics	Athletics
Year 6	Swim	Swim	Gym	Gym	Games	Games
Year 6	Games	Dance	Games	Dance	Athletics	Athletics

Whenever possible external coaches and specialist teachers e.g. from Brighton and Hove Albion, Sussex County Cricket Club, Brighton Rugby Club are used to support and develop expertise within staff and pupils at Middle Street.

Middle Street is represented at the PE Coordinators group, led by the Brighton and Hove Sports Development team. This group meets each term with local sports club representatives and secondary school specialist teachers to share and develop ways forward for primary school sport in Brighton and Hove, and to develop the legacy of the success of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Assessment

Teachers at Middle Street assess children’s work in PE by making assessments as they observe them working during lessons. They evaluate the progress made by children against the learning objectives for their lessons. At the end of a unit of work, teachers/coaches assess each child’s progress.

The ASA swimming levels are used to assess children in their swimming at Middle Street, with every child awarded a final ASA level and corresponding badge and certificate in Year 6.

A gifted and talented register is in place at Middle Street and opportunities are given to extend and challenge those pupils, and encourage them to further develop their skill by introducing them to recognised local sports clubs.

Health and Safety

The general teaching requirement for health and safety applies in this subject. At Middle Street we actively encourage the children to consider their own safety and the safety of others at all times. We expect the children to change for PE into the Middle Street PE kit, and teachers at Middle Street set a good example by wearing appropriate clothing when teaching PE. All children are taught to handle and move PE equipment safely.

Karen Busby January 2013