How is Physical Education taught at Lydney C of E School? 

Here at Lydney C of E, a varied PE curriculum is in place across all year groups.  We ensure that all Early Learning Goals, KS1 and KS2 National Curriculum outcomes are fully delivered by using the Getset4pe scheme of work. Our physical education curriculum is delivered through a combination of skills based and sports-based opportunities.  Agility, balance and co-ordination drive the PE curriculum in EYFS and Key Stage 1, providing all children with the basic fundamental movements and skills required in all areas of sport. In Key Stage 2, the focus becomes more sports based where children can develop their skills further.  Classes are introduced to a variety of sports which are built on year on year.  This prepares them with a wide range of skills to support them in the participation of sports at primary school, school competitions and clubs out of school.  We know that learning takes time, and PE is no different. We try to give pupils enough time to revisit and practice prior learning before moving on.  

EYFS  

Fundamental movement skills are encouraged throughout continuous provision daily. Children are encouraged to be physically active in the outside area and equipment is available them to explore and develop physically.  Gross motor skills are taught explicitly through PE sessions that encourage the acquisition of key movement skills, co-ordination and teamwork. Children partake in daily activities to develop fine motor skills and these are further developed through regular enhanced provision activities. 

All pupils have at least 2 hour of planned physical exercise each week.  This includes activities such as Yoga, Woodland Explore and use of the outdoor area linked to the classroom. 

KS1 and KS2  

All pupils have at least 2 hour of planned physical exercise each week.  They also have the opportunity for physical activity during lunchtime breaks, lead by our lunchtime supervisors and young leaders.  

PE is further supplemented by the use of the Daily Mile – This initiative gets children out of the classroom for fifteen minutes every day to walk, run, skip, hop etc at their own pace, with their classmates, making them fitter, healthier, and more able to concentrate in the classroom. During lessons, teachers also use the Daily Mile as an opportunity to re-energise pupils as well as increasing their physical activity. 

Pupils from Year 4-6 attend weekly swimming lessons at various times throughout the year at Freedom Leisure swimming pool.  The pupils also gain additional exercise by walking to the swimming pool.  

We are lucky enough to regularly have external specialist coaches, such as Gloucester Rugby Club and Gloucestershire Cricket Board, teach our children.  This creates strong links between the school and external clubs, as well as providing routes in to clubs for children with an interest in them. 

Year 5 and 6 have an annual residential trip during March and June in which they undertake a series of physical and challenging activities, including: assault course; low ropes to high wires; climbing wall; tree climb; abseiling; kayaking; raft building; archery. 

During the Summer term Sports Days are held for EYFS and KS1/2 covering a wide range of sporting skills together traditional sporting activities.  The focus during these events is participation, however the element of competition is still encouraged through gaining points for your house and through individual races. 

Inclusion, Quality First Teaching, Support and Assessment: 

Children who have a 1:1 adult, have direct support from their dedicated teaching assistant to help, support and encourage them in PE lessons when needed. 

We aim to provide opportunities for those who are less active and pupil premium/SEN children.  We are able to do this through clubs such as archery, events such as introduction kayaking and also through events organised by Forest School Games (‘Give it a Go Day’). 

The Fizzy programme is incorporated into the start of PE lessons for children who need extra gross motor skill practice.  

Extra-Curricular Provision 

Lydney C of E School is a Bronze School Games Mark school and we endeavour to keep our young children active in school, as well as providing opportunities for children to engagement within sport both in and out of the school. 

A variety of sports clubs are led by school staff and visiting professionals.  These clubs change on a termly basis and all year groups are given the opportunity to attend clubs aimed at their age group throughout the year.    

Many children will have given the opportunity to compete in inter-school competition in a wide range of sports that have been focused on either in PE lessons or through after school clubs.  These inter-school competitions are generally delivered to KS2 children and give them chance to compete against others schools from across the Forest of Dean.  We have been lucky enough to have teams/children progress to county level in sports such as Archery and Cross country.  We are also lucky enough to take part in friendly matches (e.g netball, football, basketball) against other schools within our Trust. 

Intra-house competitions take place on a half-termly basis for KS2, giving tree houses the opportunity for friendly competition against each other.  Each half term a different sport or area of the curriculum is the focus of the competition.