PE Curriculum Rationale

At West Malling CE Primary School we recognise the importance of Physical Education to a child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, summed up as the ‘Head, Heart, Hands ethos’. We strive to ensure children become physically literate and forge a life-long love of physical activity and to understand the importance of physical exercise on their overall health, now and in the future.

We will provide a broad and balanced PE curriculum that allows all students to achieve through a variety of opportunities and experiences. We want children to develop the skills of teamwork, leadership, resilience and cooperation, understanding fairness and promoting a sense of good sportsmanship.

In addition to the importance placed on PE lessons we also promote our wider curriculum offer which includes opportunities for pupils to take part in extra-curricular sports and activities, clubs and competitions. Daily physical activity and health enhancing activities play a crucial role in our offer of developing children’s physical and mental well-being. 

We want all children to leave West Malling with a positive attitude towards physical activity having experienced a wide range of sports and experiences having developed a wide range of skills.

Substantive knowledge

EYFS:

PE in the EYFS introduces the children to a range of gross and fine motor skills and allows them to gain physical control and self-confidence over how they move and manipulate objects and equipment. Children’s fundamental skills are introduced through a range of individual and cooperative activities that are then built upon in their exploring and learning time.

Key Stage 1:

Pupils develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. They have opportunities to engage in competitive and co-operative physical activities building their resilience and physical literacy. Activities taught include a range of transferrable skills along with focus on cognitive, behavioural and emotional learning needs.

Key Stage 2:

Pupils continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement. Their behavioural and emotional characteristics are developed through collaborating and competing with each other. Pupils extend their cognitive abilities by developing an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

Across KS2 children will also experience swimming, OAA and leadership opportunities.

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge in PE comes through opportunities to develop the whole child, appreciating their physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional learning needs.

The children acquire and develop skills and abilities through their own actions, balances, movements and skills. Opportunities to apply skills and understanding are given within games and activities, having to choose different strategies and the best way to approach different challenges.

As they move through school, their skills and knowledge around tactics and choreography become more complex and they have to work collaboratively to make decisions. There are lots of opportunities for the children to gain confidence performing in front of others, to evaluate their performances and reflect on how they will improve next time using improved language.