Overview of the Subject:

Our curriculum at Spire is carefully planned and organised to promote a deep understanding of the projects and concepts that we cover through quality first teaching. We do this by equipping our pupils with the skills and qualities they need to thrive both within the curriculum and within the wider world.  At Spire Junior School, our PE curriculum is designed to engage all learners within PE and is done through the Real PE format. Following this curriculum ensures our children develop a life-long enjoyment of PE and look forward to it each week.

 

Subject Information:

Intent:

The central aim of our school curriculum is to develop the whole child and shape their minds for positive learning experiences about the world around them. We strongly believe in encouraging curiosity, exploration and developing a strong sense of self-identity. 

At Spire Junior School, PE is taught in the context of the school curriculum intent, ensuring our children develop their physical literacy and apply fundamental movement skills within every lesson, as we want children to maximise active opportunities throughout PE lessons. We also want them to be at the forefront of each lesson so they can have a direct impact on their learning throughout the year. We ensure staff have a clear understanding of the Real PE philosophy and utilise resources through support from PE coordinators, Continuing Professional Development, and Chesterfield School Sports Partnership PE specialist. Another of our aims is for learning to be enhanced through an extensive after-school club timetable allowing children to experience a wide variety of sporting opportunities, which we hope will encourage children to join local clubs.

 

 

Implementation:

When implementing our PE curriculum, children develop and apply fundamental skills and movements within every lesson. They can challenge themselves in every lesson or make a task more manageable if it is too difficult. Children are at the forefront and have a direct impact of their learning within the lesson. Staff have a clear understanding of the Real PE scheme. Each half-term has a specific focus, which we call the ‘6 cogs’. The 6 cogs are Social, Physical, Health and Fitness, Creative, Cognitive and Personal. It is also differentiated to support the needs of every child. As an addition to regular PE lessons, swimming and water safety is taught in Year 5.

Sports Premium Funding is spent effectively to develop a legacy for PE and Sport in school. Cross-curriculum links are made through enrichment days.

Children are encouraged to be active throughout the school day, and OPAL has had a huge positive impact on this at lunchtimes. Staff understand the importance of active learning and our children are beginning to lead their own active play.

Children given the opportunity to compete in competitive sport and represent the school. Targeted approach to identifying groups of children to access school sport at various levels of motivation, competence and confidence aligned to a physical literacy approach. A wide range of after-school clubs are offered which are driven by the pupil's voice.

Children enjoy PE and Sport, and it is used as a vehicle for positive mental health and wellbeing.

Impact:

At Spire Junior School, we are confident our curriculum is successful in the teaching and learning of PE through a variety of monitoring and feedback activities which take place throughout the school. There is currently one PE co-ordinator who is regularly trained and updated in this fast-moving subject area. Alongside the SLT, they are responsible for measuring the impact of PE as well as ensuring that PE is used as a vehicle for whole school improvement. Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process in PE and Spire Junior School. We focus on clear learning outcomes related to the curriculum and Real PE scheme. Teachers, therefore, are continuously and formatively assessing skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding. The programme is regularly evaluated by the PE coordinator. This takes place through a variety of methods, including learning walks, observation, discussions with PE specialists, pupil feedback, analysis of learning nutrition wheels and targeted team teaching. The views of the pupils, teachers and parents are assessed through questionnaires and are used to make changes and improvements to our programme and extracurricular offer, on an ongoing basis. Staff also receive teaching and learning monitoring and support from the PE coordinator.

What do PE lessons look like?

A PE lesson at Spire Junior School follows a similar pattern to that of a classroom-based lesson, with a starter, main activity and then a plenary. There will also be many mini-plenaries throughout the lesson to ensure the children are on task and are aware of what is expected of them. These plenaries are a great tool for assessing where the children are at and if they need more support with an activity, or if they are ready for a challenge. All children, regardless of ability, all have the opportunity to achieve something, and we really encourage our children to have a go. PE uniform is a must at Spire Junior School and something that we really drive home to our families.

We are extremely fortunate to have amazing spaces around the school, which we use for our lessons. Activities in the hall would normally include coordination and balance work, the field is most often used for athletics, striking and fielding and invasion games, and the playground can be used for all activities, in all weather.

We are also incredibly lucky to have such enthusiastic teachers who really enjoy teaching PE and are willing to go above and beyond to ensure each child is engaged and has a smile on their face throughout.

Long-term subject overview:

 

Year group	Year 3/4			Year 5			Year 6
Term and focus	Autumn- Discover	Spring - Explore	Summer - Create	Autumn - Discover	Spring - Explore	Summer - Create	Autumn – Discover	Spring - Explore	Summer - Create
Question	Who does invasion benefit?	Is it possible to survive the extreme?	Can you taste the rainbow?	Are all great leaders born or made?	Why are mountains important?	What makes us stand up?	Does any good come from conflict?	Is bigger always better?	What makes you wonderful?
Activity	Personal skills - coordination footwork, static balance one leg. Social skills - dynamic balance to agility jumping and landing, static balance seated	Cognitive skills - dynamic balance on a line, coordination ball skills. Creative skills - coordination sending and receiving, counterbalance with a partner.	Physical skills - agility reaction and response, static balance floor work. Health and fitness skills - agility ball chasing, static balance, stance	Personal skills - coordination footwork, static balance one leg. Social skills - dynamic balance to agility jumping and landing, static balance seated	Cognitive skills - dynamic balance on a line, coordination ball skills. Creative skills - coordination sending and receiving, counterbalance with a partner.	Physical skills - agility reaction and response, static balance floor work. Health and fitness skills - agility ball chasing, static balance, stance	Personal skills - coordination footwork, static balance one leg. Social skills - dynamic balance to agility jumping and landing, static balance seated	Cognitive skills - dynamic balance on a line, coordination ball skills. Creative skills - coordination sending and receiving, counterbalance with a partner.	Physical skills - agility reaction and response, static balance floor work. Health and fitness skills - agility ball chasing, static balance, stance

 

What else is happening in PE?

• Rotherham Titans Rugby Club are delivering rugby and nutrition sessions
• Derbyshire Cricket Foundation to deliver Chance 2 Shine sessions
• Three physical activity days delivered through our SHAPE partnership focusing on team building
• Olympic athlete visit and assembly
• House sports day
• Colour run with the infant school
• Dance workshop is led by the SHAPE partnership
• Year 3 & 4 Bikeability
• Year 5 swimming at Queens Park Leisure Centre
• SEND activities and experiences

PE at home:

Parent can support their child by encouraging and supporting them to take part in activities after school or at a local sports club. In the local area, we are truly fortunate to have a plethora of sports clubs, such as: cricket, rugby, hockey, football, and swimming. These clubs would welcome any youngster, and it would be a fantastic opportunity to see them thrive.

If this is not an option, then these websites are useful and encourage a child to be active:

Cosmic Kids Yoga

Joe Wicks

SHAPE learning partnership