Physical Education Policy

Statement of Intent:

‘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’ (National Curriculum 2014).

Rationale:

At NEPS, we believe P.E can create a platform for pupils to develop many of the school learning values which enables them to become happy, healthy and active students. In P.E we combine our school learning values with the six school games values; Passion, Self – Belief, Honesty, Determination and Teamwork.

Our aims working alongside the national curriculum for physical education are 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

(National Curriculum 2014).

Young people’s participation should be the essential foundation on which all other outcomes are built upon. By working together we can ensure every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and enjoy life changing benefits that come from play and sport. Youth Sports Trust outline six strategic objectives:

● Transforming P.E’s place in the curriculum

● Remove barriers and instil a love of sport based on a broad experience of participation, leading and volunteering in traditional and non-traditional sports.

● Ensure an understanding of the value of physical activity and sport throughout life, unlocking every child’s potential.

● Empowering activism, giving young people a voice to tackle issues of their generation.

● Championing insight through research and physical study.

● Strengthen foundations to ensure sustainability across the curriculum.

(Believing in every child’s future, Youth Sport Trust Strategy)

Aims:

We always aim to create a space where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. We celebrate cultural differences, embrace different body types, and allow students to express themselves through movement and clothing choices.

Physical development:

• To develop physical competence and confidence by acquiring and developing a range of fine and gross motor skills.

• To be aware of the different shapes and movements that can be made with the body.

• To develop knowledge, skills and understanding, and the ability to remember, repeat and refine actions with increasing control and accuracy.

• To promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle by understanding the effects of exercise on the body and the importance of developing strength, endurance and flexibility.

• To appreciate the value of safe exercising.

Social and emotional development:

• To develop a love of physical exercise.

• To develop the ability to work independently and communicate with, and respond appropriately towards others using verbal and non-verbal communication.

• To develop confidence in their own skills and abilities.

• To promote an understanding of safe practice, and develop a sense of responsibility towards the safety of themselves and others.

• To realise that the right exercise for you can be fun and will give you energy for other things in life.

• To create and plan games and teach them to one another.

• To develop a sense of fair play.

Cognitive development:

• To develop decision making and problem solving skills.

• To develop reasoning skills and the ability to make judgements.

• To develop an increasing ability to select, link and apply skills, tactics and compositional ideas.

• To develop the ability to communicate non-verbally with the body

• To improve observational skills, the ability to describe and make simple judgements on their own and others’ work, and to use this knowledge and understanding to improve their own performance.

• To understand that using the correct technique will improve accuracy and individual performance.

• To be able to evaluate performance and act upon constructive criticism.

Spiritual, moral and cultural development:

• To develop a positive attitude to themselves and others.

• To experience a range of differing activities and realise that physical activity doesn’t have to be about winning a competition – doing your best is as important.

• To be able to encourage others and give praise for their achievements so that when children perform they do not fear failure.

• To treat your team, the opposition and the referee with respect.

• To raise self-esteem through opportunities to celebrate sporting success.

The PE Curriculum:

Our NEPS P.E and Games curriculum is designed to create positive relationships with physical activity for life. In line with the National Curriculum, children will be included, challenged and supported through the basic skills of physical literacy working alongside the Get Set 4 PE programme of study.

Our PE lessons are planned using the Get Set 4 PE platform, which aligns with our core values, our whole child approach to PE and the objectives laid out in the National Curriculum. Get Set 4 PE is planned so that progression is built into the scheme which ensures our children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school.

Children at NEPS will thrive in spirit and sportsmanship, creating ambitious and motivated lifelong learners. The extensive sporting opportunities children receive at NEPS provide a springboard for future possibilities thus allowing students to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

We encourage the physical development of our children in the nursery and reception class as an integral part of their work. As these classes are part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the physical development of the children to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five years of age. We encourage the children to develop confidence and control of the way they move, and the way they handle tools and equipment. We give all children the opportunity to undertake activities that offer appropriate physical challenges, both indoors and outdoors, using a wide range of resources to support specific skills.

Pupils in both KS1 and KS2 engage in two hours of high quality PE during the course of each week. In KS1 the curriculum focuses on fundamental movement skills to develop agility, balance and coordination. Curriculum content includes ball skills and team games, gymnastic and dance activities. At KS2 pupils continue to apply and develop a range of skills and units of work include a range of invasion, net/wall, and fielding and striking games, gymnastics, dance, athletics and swimming. We also enrich children’s experiences through opportunities for outdoor and adventurous activities.

A range of resources are used to support progression across the curriculum including the Get Set 4 P.E platform and sport-specific programmes.

Inclusion:

● All pupils, regardless of race, creed, gender, class, ability or disability are given the opportunity to participate in PE in a safe and supportive environment.
● Teachers should be aware of the individual and differing needs of all pupils, including those with physical, emotional and learning difficulties as well as those pupils identified (or being monitored) as able and talented.
● PE and School Sport enable pupils to work in a team, promoting respect and positive attitudes towards others.

North Ealing PE Kit:

Both staff and children must be aware of the need for correct clothing and of the dangers of inappropriate clothing. They must also appreciate why particular clothing and protection are worn for different activities.

Staff:
Appropriate clothing and footwear, e.g. trainers

Pupils:
The ideal clothing for each activity is set out below:

Indoor Activity:
● Plain navy or black shorts which are above the knee (no cycling shorts) – unless religious reasons dictate otherwise
● North Ealing polo shirt
● Black trainers or bare feet (if one child is barefoot then all children should be barefoot unless there is a good reason why they should not be)
● Bare feet for apparatus work and gymnastics routines

Outdoor Games:
● Same as indoor kit except a change of socks and black trainers
● North Ealing tracksuit (if weather dictates)
● No coats to be worn whilst in lessons

In all above activities:
● No tights, cardigans are to be worn
● Long hair must be tied back
● Jewellery must not be worn, unless for religious purposes (covered with a sweatband)
● Stud earrings or small sleepers may be worn, if covered with tape or plasters
● All watches, stiff headbands, hair slides and other sharp hair accessories are to be removed

In swimming:
● Close fitting swimsuits (not two piece) /trunks should be worn (not shorts)
● A hat should be worn over long hair which should be tied up
● A suitable towel should be taken to the pool
● Goggles are not a necessity for water safety
● Waterproof socks should be worn when necessary

In outdoor pursuits:
● As dictated by the activity (at the discretion of the teacher in charge)

Red medical bags must be carried by the teacher to the site of any PE activity.

Valuables should be locked away by the teacher in charge.

Equal Opportunities, Able & Talented and Special Educational Needs:

All pupils, regardless of race, culture, gender, class, ability, body type or disability will be given the opportunity to develop their physical skills and understanding in a safe environment. All teachers should be aware of the individual and differing needs of pupils including those with physical, emotional and learning difficulties, as well as those pupils identified (or being monitored as) able and talented.

Implementation and Organisation:

North Ealing Primary School is committed to encouraging children to work towards 5 hours of PE, School Sport and Club Links Activities.

We achieve this by:

● Short, Medium and Long term planning which is available for all class teachers working alongside the EYFS Physical Development guidelines, Get set 4 P.E platform with added extensions for KS2 pupils including OAA activities in local facilities.
● PE lessons work in unison with Sport coach teaching from the Get Set 4 P.E platform.
● PE which is taught primarily as a class or year group activity;
● Opportunities given enable the children to perform and evaluate their own work and that of others;
● Welcoming private sports clubs;
● Swimming lessons offered to all children in Year 4;
● Sports clubs run voluntarily by teachers and volunteers before and after school;
● Running a week’s PGL residential trip in Year 6 where a timetable of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities(OAA) is followed;
● Running a competitive Sports’ Day every year (nursery to Year 6). KS2 sports day held at Perivale Sports Track to enable ‘Athletics’ style competition.
● Competing in local football and netball leagues and tournaments;
● Competing in other sporting activities organised by Willow Tree School Sport Partnership.

Impact:

● The impact of the school’s positive and inclusive attitude to PE can be seen in the uptake of the various sporting clubs which are run on the school site – both fee-paying clubs and those which are voluntarily run by the staff.
● The Impact can also be seen in NEPS consecutively receiving the platinum school games mark award along with individual and team medals at competitions from Year 3-6.
● Playtimes are now ‘active play’ through the OPAL approach.
● We have competitive Sports’ Days across the whole school from Nursery to Year 6. Nursery – Year 4 focus on traditional games based sports day, whereby Upper KS2 focus on Athletic style events. This is looked forward to by the children and is attended by many parents/carers with the ‘House’ which wins having a cup displayed, with their ribbon on, in the display cabinet all year.

Attendance:

Participation in lessons is expected. The following procedures should be implemented when this is not the case:-

● Pupils should, whenever possible, remain with class and be given relevant work
● If failure to take part is due to not having their kit, then pupils should receive a P.E kit from medical room supply.
● Failure to do the above will result in parent consultation.

Resources:

● Equipment: PE autumn/spring sports equipment is available in the ‘old’ hall storage cupboard with equipment clearly labelled and stored in subjects. Summer sports equipment e.g Athletics is stored in the Y4 cupboard.
● Playground equipment for break/lunchtimes will be stored in the OPAL sheds.
● All should be maintained in an orderly fashion and checked at the end of each lesson by the class teacher or P.E lead. Storage, collection and returning of apparatus to and from the correct place should be an integral part of the learning process and should be overseen by the class teacher.
● The PE coordinator may be consulted to assist in all PE matters.
● Space: 2 playgrounds (with netball courts on), main hall, old hall, adventure style play equipment, access to Pitshanger Park (when needed) and Local facilities such as Pitshanger Football club pitches and Perivale Athletics track.

Assessment:

● We consider assessment to be an ongoing activity. Children should be observed and assessed as often as possible when engaging in physical activities.
● Each unit of work is directly linked to the Get set 4 P.E scheme and progress is measurable using this central core.
● At the end of each unit, assessments are made using the progression of skills documents and ladders and noted for both individuals and classes.
● Additional assessment is also undertaken by our sports coach using descriptors.