Physical Education

Physical Education Co-ordinator: Miss E Lawton

Lowerhouse Junior School's vision for PE is that every child should have the opportunity to take part in PE and become physically confident and competent. Our aim is to facilitate high-quality PE for pupils, enhance attainment and achievement, and create pathways to being active beyond school. At Lowerhouse Junior School, children are encouraged to understand and value the benefits of physical activity to their health and well-being. P.E. is taught throughout the school with each class allocated two sessions per week. We believe that physical activity not only improves health, reduces stress and improves concentration, but also promotes correct physical growth and development. Exercise has a positive influence on academic achievement, emotional stability and interaction with others. Our aim is that, through physical education, we teach and develop physical competence, improve skills and creative performance, understand basic principles of ‘fair play’ and improve social skills.

Physical Literacy at Lowerhouse Junior School

Physical literacy at Lowerhouse Junior School is integral to fostering a lifelong relationship with movement and physical activity. It involves our ability to move (physical), our feelings about these activities (psychological), our connections with others (social), and our understanding of movement (cognitive). Therefore, it is essential that our Physical Education curriculum and sports programmes provide all students with engaging experiences that resonate with their interests and motivations. To achieve this, we prioritise making our PE and School Sport offer both FUN and ENGAGING. Activities are designed to nurture resilience, teamwork, and overall health, while encouraging a sense of belonging within our school community. By focusing on each child's unique journey through movement, we aim to empower them to embrace physical activity as a positive and enjoyable part of their lives.

Intent

Our overarching aim at Lowerhouse Junior School is for our pupils to achieve great things and live life in all its fullness. Offering a well-rounded and balanced curriculum is one way we work towards achieving this and Physical Education provides the perfect platform for children to achieve great things and explore what living a full life might look like for them and the people around them. At Lowerhouse Junior School, Physical Education is an integral part of our curriculum and we strive to create a culture which aims to inspire an active generation to enjoy PE, encourage each other and achieve great things. We provide a safe and supportive environment for children to flourish in an ever widening range of different physical activities which is essential in supporting their physical, emotional, social and moral development. We aspire for children to adopt a Growth Mindset and believe that anything can be achieved with determination and resilience. We are extremely lucky at Lowerhouse Junior School having four specialist PE teachers/HLTAs as part of our school family and we are able to offer a varied program of activity to ensure that all children progress physically through a unique and fully inclusive PE curriculum. Our curriculum aims to challenge and support, improving the well-being and fitness of all children. This is not only achieved through the sporting skills taught, but through the underpinning values and disciplines PE promotes. We aim to deliver high quality teaching and learning opportunities that enable all children to achieve their best and succeed. All children participate in a vast range of competitive sports at Lowerhouse Junior School, at a range of levels which can be against self and/or others, inter and intra school. We also place an essential part of our curriculum on swimming in Year 4. Swimming is an important life skill and we aspire for all children to leave primary school having met at least the minimum requirements of the National Curriculum. We endeavour to encourage children to transfer the school values and that our whole school family can be physically active for sustained periods of time and able to make informed decisions to lead full, healthy and active lives.

Implementation

PE at Lowerhouse Junior School provides challenging and enjoyable learning through a range of sporting activities including invasion games, net & wall games, striking and fielding games, gymnastics, dance, health and fitness, outdoor and adventure and swimming.
Year 4 classes have swimming across the year. Rowan Class going swimming Autumn Term and Spring 1 with Maple going swimming Spring 2 and Summer Term.
Pupils participate in at least 2 hours of high-quality PE lessons each week, covering two different sports/ skills focuses each half term.
The Long-Term planning for each class, which are accessed electronically through IPads, sets out the PE units which are to be taught throughout the year and ensures that the requirements of the National Curriculum are fully met. This is tracked by the PE Lead using the PE Passport App, where evidence, assessments and twice-weekly registers can be viewed. All staff can access the Medium-Term planning and half-termly assessments for each class throughout the academic year.
Teachers use and adapt planning and resources to ensure lessons across years show progression.
Children are encouraged to participate in the varied range of extra-curricular activities. We provide inclusive and enjoyable clubs which increase children’s physical activity. Clubs are offered to all children.
All Year 6 children can become Play Leaders for the school. Training for this is provided by our School Games Organiser. The children assist with and organise games at break times.
We believe that having Sports Leaders at Lowerhouse Junior School helps to develop sporting role models for the younger children. 4 Sports Leaders are elected each year. These children meet half-termly with the PE Lead and discuss ways to develop the PE and Sports in our school. They also organise both Inter and Intra School competitions, support club development, lead pupil voice and actively encourage sport for all.
Children are invited to attend a host of competitive sporting events and festivals within the local area and beyond. We take part in a range of competitions on offer and strive for an inclusive approach which endeavours to encourage not only physical development but also mental well-being. These events also develop teamwork and leadership skills.

Impact

At Lowerhouse Junior School, we aspire for children to enjoy PE and develop a love of sport and physical activity which will become part of their future life outside primary school. We ensure that our PE curriculum is progressive and allows children to develop fundamental skills and apply them to a variety of sports and activities. Our pupils are physically active, and this has a positive impact on their learning in the classroom. We have created a safe and supportive environment that encourages each child to lead a healthy lifestyle and understand the importance of regular exercise. Children can represent the school at sporting events at local level. All children are provided with the necessary skills and given opportunities to demonstrate improvement to achieve great things and live life in all its fullness.