PE and Sport

At St Jerome Bilingual School we recognise the importance that Physical Education (PE) plays in the curriculum and are committed to providing all children with opportunities to engage in it fully. 

The aim of our PE programme is primarily to develop children’s strength, endurance,  mobility, breathing, balance and skills. By returning to these six key areas, we build CONSISTENCY of practice which develops pupils’ physical literacy. Through this consistent practice, we also aim to build confidence in a pupil’s own physical capabilities and help them to understand that they can improve in these areas. This, in turn, helps to foster a growth mindset.

Alongside the development of consistent practice of foundational skills, pupils are encouraged to improve their COMPOSURE during lessons where children will work to develop their resilience, perseverance, teamwork and respect.To refine their composure further, PE lessons encourage children to COMPETE against themselves and others or to PERFORM to their peers. Pupils are then challenged to reflect on their successes and failures.

Our objectives in the teaching of PE align with the National Curriculum in that we aim to ensure 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

 

Teaching and learning

Our PE lessons are planned using the Get Set 4 PE platform, which aligns with our core values 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.

The curriculum planning in PE is carried out in three phases (long-term, medium-term and short- term). The long-term plan maps out the PE activities covered in each term during the key stage. The PE subject leader works this out in conjunction with teaching colleagues and pupils in each year group. Together we create a broad and balanced curriculum which is exciting for our pupils. Our medium-term plans give details of each unit of work for each term. These schemes of work provide an overview of the unit, links to other areas of the National Curriculum and assessment criteria for that unit. The short-term lesson plans provide opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in each activity area.

We teach two hours of PE each week. These consist of two one hour lessons: one held indoors and one held outdoors. The indoor PE lesson is taught with Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)  by a French speaking PE specialist. This session focuses largely on gymnastics, dance and indoor athletics. The outdoor PE lesson is taught in the playground by a class teacher and mostly focuses on skill development in ball sports and athletics. We offer a variety of sports clubs after school which are available for pupils from year 1-6. 

Each year, we hold a Sports’ Day at Harrow School Athletics Track. This is attended by years 1-6. We then hold a special Sports’ Day specifically for Reception pupils at St Jerome School. Parents are encouraged to attend both of these events and they provide a fun way to end the year. Pupils in year 4, 5 and 6 attend one term of swimming in each respective year in place of one of their weekly PE sessions. Swimming takes place at Harrow Leisure Centre and pupils and teachers walk 

 

EYFS

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 challenge, both indoors and outdoors, using a wide range of resources to support specific skills.

Assessment

Our teachers assess the children’s work in PE, both by making informal judgements, as they observe them during lessons, and through assessing against the specific objectives set out in the National Curriculum and recorded using the Get Set 4 PE assessment software. We have clear expectations of what the pupils will know, understand and be able to do at the end of each Key Stage. Teachers are
 supported with resources to know how to prepare children for their next phase of education. These resources include the Get Set 4 PE progression of skills document, progression ladders and knowledge organisers.

 

Monitoring and Reviewing

The planning and coordination of the teaching of PE is the responsibility of the subject leader, who:

  1. Supports colleagues in their teaching, providing a strategic lead and direction; 
  2. Evaluates the strengths and areas for development in the subject through staff and pupil voice questionnaires;
  3.  Reviews evidence of the children’s work and observes PE lessons.

The quality of teaching and learning in PE is monitored and evaluated by the subject leader and is overseen by the curriculum leader.

 

Health and Safety

We recognise that participation in PE and Physical Activities contains an element of risk. Staff are responsible for ensuring that they are familiar with safe practice to reduce the element of risk to the absolute minimum within their control.

Staff are aware of pupils who have special needs with regards to physical activity and make special provision for needs where appropriate e.g. physical disability, asthma.

Staff know about the safe practices involved in moving and using apparatus. Pupils wear appropriate clothing, remove jewellery and tie back long hair. If the removal of jewellery or studs is not possible they should be securely taped and the teacher is confident this strategy is effective. Our School provides an appropriate PE kit for all children and keeps spare sets in school.

Pupils may be asked to remove shoes and socks when participating in indoor activities such as gymnastics, dance and yoga. Correct use of equipment is taught along with any potential hazards, including completing a risk assessment for each area/ space that PE and school sport takes place in. Equipment and apparatus are stored safely at the end of each lesson. Pupils are taught to consider their own safety and that of others at all times.

Teaching staff should be appropriately dressed to teach PE. We undertake an annual Risk Assessment of the school premises and areas where PE is taught and equipment including PE equipment as necessary. Risk Assessments are in place for all school sporting trips.