Aims

At Stivichall, we aim to provide our children with high-quality physical education that offers a broad and balanced range of sports, helping them to become physically confident, successful and committed to maintaining healthy, active lifestyles at all levels. Children are offered a wide range of opportunities to participate in competitions at school level personally and within schoolhouse teams. At inter school level, we strive for children to excel in competitive sport and inspire them to pursue their own talents and interests further.

Being awarded Gold in the School Games Mark in 2023, we are committed to delivering a rich and inclusive PE provision. We value the personal and character-building skills that competitive sport brings such as resilience, teamwork and perseverance.

Our vision extends beyond physical development: we see PE as a key driver of motivation, confidence and whole-school improvement.

Curriculum

Starting in the Early Years, children develop fine, gross and core motor skills through active learning daily. Through Real PE, they will learn the fundamental movement skills that are the foundation of physical literacy.

As the children move into key stage one, pupils receive two lessons of PE lessons per week focusing on building on their fundamental movement skills: agility, balance and coordination. They start to apply these skills in small games and performances across the curriculum. One lesson a week will be taught from the Real PE scheme focussing on skills in one of the following areas: creative, personal, health and fitness, social, cognitive and physical. The other lesson will be a Real gym, dance, outdoor adventurous, games or swimming. In this key stage, the children will begin to learn important life skills, instilling the will to win as well as being gracious in defeat. This is taught, modelled and practised in lessons and at clubs with further opportunities for children to enter competitions in gymnastics and agility. Within lessons, such as athletics and magnificent 7, children can be in competition with themselves as they repeat and build on skills and techniques to improve and achieve their personal best scores.

In key stage two, children begin to learn key skills that are more sport specific. They learn to apply these skills when working as part of a team and develop these further within year group in-house competition, all the while developing an understanding of how to improve evaluate and recognise their own success. Once embedded, through the School Games and other city leagues children can transfer these skills at a higher competitive level. As a whole school, we offer the opportunity for all children in key stage 2 to take part in a house cross country competition and sports day in the summer term.

We regularly broaden the curriculum, with the support of the PE sport premium funding, with events such as the ‘Chance to shine’ cricket engagement day for year 4 and 5, tag rugby and mental health sessions and specialised sport CPD when attending events such as indoor athletics.

'Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up', Rocky Balboa

We believe swimming is a vital lifesaving skill that all should be given the opportunity to learn. Currently, our children swim when they are in year 3 through a two-week block session. In year 6, we offer top up sessions (partially funded by the sports premium) for those children that have not met the 25m swimming standard and are unable to use a range of strokes. We like to ensure we have given all children the opportunity to achieve this before they leave us in year 6.

Our inclusive approach ensures all children can succeed. Teacher assessments each half term help identify those needing support or challenge. A wealth of gifted and talented pupils are identified and celebrated for their excellence in sport.

Funding

Physical Education at is supported by the Government Sports Premium funding which helps enhance the delivery of physical education and across five key areas of focus:

1. Engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity – kick starting healthy active lifestyles.
2. Raising the profile of PE and sport across the school as a tool for whole school improvement.
3. Increasing confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport.
4. Offering a broader experience of sports and activities to all pupils
5. Increasing participation in competitive sport

The impact of what this funding is spent on can be found in the expenditure report and differs each year depending on actions and targets. 

Extra-Curricular

At Stivichall, we are extremely proud of the wide range of clubs we offer our children throughout each year. Clubs are run by our enthusiastic school staff at lunchtimes and after school. We have specialist coaches in to teach gymnastics and other clubs such as tennis, basketball and football. As sportspeople, we encourage all our children to attend a club as we have found these have such a positive impact on children's health and fitness. As sportspeople, our children are encouraged to try new things, challenge themselves and discover enjoyment in movement. For many, clubs and competitions act as a source of motivation and well-being. Our clubs provide children with opportunities to develop friendships, a sense of belonging and foster a sense commitment.

'Success doesn't happen overnight, keep your eye on the prize and don't look back' Erin Andrews

PE leaders

Every year, we recruit a team of confident, eager PE leaders who are keen to support the development of PE across our school. Year on year, these confident, enthusiastic pupils champion physical activity across the school. Within the role, they support key stage one children in having active, fun playtimes running games and clubs at lunchtimes. Taking the lead in organising PE equipment and supporting events such as sports day and in house competitions allows them to develop their leaderships skills further.

Outcomes

‘Ability is what you are capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do, Attitude determines how well you do it’ Lou Holtz.

As a result of a carefully planned curriculum, quality teaching and a wide range of opportunities, children at Stivichall make strong progress in PE. Immediate feedback in lessons, peer feedback (including the use of Oracy), personal best cards in activities such as athletics and participating in competition all support children to identify their progress and develop their skills further. Ongoing teacher assessments guide teachers to identify which children need further support in PE and to consider ways to adapt provision.

Children grow in skill, confidence and self-awareness with many becoming passionate about sport and physical activity. Clubs and competitions help children develop teamwork, sportsmanship and motivation: "Active bodies create active minds."

Extending learning beyond school

• Daily movement breaks encourage short bursts of activity (like star jumps, stretches or dancing) during homework or screen time breaks.
• Go for family walks, bike rides or scooter outings.
• Try fun fitness challenges at home set mini goals like holding a plank for 30 seconds, skipping 20 times or balancing on one leg.
• Use free online PE videos try child-friendly exercise routines like Joe Wicks, Cosmic Kids Yoga or GoNoodle.
• Play active games in the garden or park classic games like tag, catch, hopscotch or obstacle courses are great for coordination.
• Keep an activity diary children can track their daily movement and reflect on how being active makes them feel.
• Learn new skills together practise throwing, catching, dribbling, or skipping ropes; set mini family competitions!
• Dance together put on some music and have a dance party; it’s fun, energising, and builds rhythm and coordination.
• Use everyday objects for practice – e.g. balancing a beanbag or cushion on your head to work on posture and control.
• Talk about healthy lifestyles discuss the importance of sleep, staying active, drinking water and eating well.
• Set ‘personal best’ goals encourage your child to beat their own record in an activity like running, jumping or bouncing a ball.