At Elmstead Primary School, the Physical Education curriculum promotes curiosity and inspiration to succeed and excel in sporting activities. It is motivating and empowers our pupils to become independent and resilient learners. Pupils are equipped with ambition beyond the minimum statutory requirements of the Physical Education National Curriculum and are prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of later life.
The Physical Education curriculum is focused upon the development of fitness, health and exercise; including mental health and physical health. Physical Education is progressively sequenced to ensure that pupils gain appreciation and understanding of areas, such as: healthy eating; caring for your body, and the fundamentals/rules of sports. Through practical work, the pupils learn the discipline of the subject and apply their knowledge and skills to think and work as an athlete.
Within Key Stage 1, pupils are taught to master basic movements (including running, jumping, throwing and catching), as well as developing balance, agility and coordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities. They are taught to participate in team games, develop simple tactics for attacking and defending and perform dances using simple movement patterns.
Within Key Stage 2, pupils are taught to use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination. They have opportunities to play competitive games in a variety of sports (for example, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders and tennis). The children are taught to apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending, and also develop their flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance. Key Stage 2 pupils perform dances using a range of movement patterns and also take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges, both individually and within a team. Moreover, they can use vocabulary to compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.
Within the Tendring Hub and Penrose Learning Trust schools, they work together to compete and share expertise, skills and participation in competitive sport. Many of the children at Elmstead have taken part in a variety of Tendring Hub/Penrose Learning Trust sport competitions, such as Boccia festivals and football tournaments. The children are able to put their leadership, teamwork and sport skills into practice during the events and competitions, allowing them to walk away feeling proud of their achievements and participation.
