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At Thornton Dale C of E Primary School we aim to provide all children with a rich experience of physical fitness and sports and to provide opportunities for all children to take part in competitive and non-competitive sports. We aim to develop the physical literacy of all children to develop confident movers who are able to access their environment proficiently and get the most out of it by successfully assessing the risks within it.
Progression
EYFS – Across this age range children access their physical development mainly through the continuous provision areas. They have the opportunity to climb, jump, kick, catch, throw, balance, run and develop the skills involved to work towards their early learning goals for physical development. This includes our funky fingers provision to develop the physical attributes needed to support movement into writing.
KS1 – During this stage of their schooling the children continue to develop their physical literacy building on all the skills they have acquired in early years. Through a combination of discrete PE lessons and within the wider curriculum the children extend all the areas of balance, coordination and agility required, whilst increasing their spatial awareness and concept of risk in the environment. They are also introduced to more competitive sporting games at different times of the year, such as interhouse football competitions and of course, Sports Day.
KS2 – In KS2 the children begin to apply these movement skills to more sport-specific activities. They have the opportunity to learn structured team games and to begin to develop specific skills needed for different sports and there is a more regular opportunity (particularly for Y5/6) to attend competitive events within our cluster of schools through the School Sports Partnership. It is also in early KS2 that we focus our curriculum coverage in swimming.
Our PE curriculum is cited by many children to be one of the highlights of their school life - in the Year 6 leavers film last year the children said "My favourite thing about TD School is PE!" This is due to ALL staff being thoroughly committed to ALL children becoming confident and competent movers, developing coordination, balance and agility in all the sports and physical activities they do, from the Early Years Foundation stage right through to Y6. To understand that good physical education can have a positive and fun impact on their lives now and create good habits for their lives going forward is the ultimate goal we all strive towards. We aim to include as much physical activity through our curriculum and through the school day as possible, using the amazing outdoor space we have to deliver all manner of curriculum subjects in an active manner and engaging children in physical activity during break times. Our core PE curriculum is delivered across school by both school staff and trained specialists in some areas. This year, for example, we have welcomed Hawkes Fitness back as a regular part of our teaching team and also enjoyed basketball, football and rugby coaches coming in to enhance the curriculum further. We also regularly use a former Olympian to inspire our cycling skills, as well as having climbing walls, karate days and skipping workshops to inspire the children further and offer experiences they don't normally have. Children enjoy interschool competition within the Ryedale area, taking part in events whenever possible. Our PE curriculum is also enhanced by our Forest Schools sessions.
