PHYSICAL EDUCATION

‘Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.’ – John F Kennedy

What do we want for our children?

At Preston Park we ensure that all children progress physically through a broad and fully inclusive PE curriculum. We encourage all children to develop their understanding of the way in which they can use their body, equipment and apparatus safely and skilfully. We understand how important physical activity is in an individual’s life as it not only helps them physically, but has positive impacts on their mental and social well-being. Exercise can help to relieve stress and provide children with opportunities to work with their peers strengthening their social skills. This ability to work as part of a supportive team or as an individual is beneficial beyond the sporting world and can be applied later in their life.

The aim of physical education is to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Our PE Curriculum, along with PSHE and science, teaches children about the importance of healthy living. At Preston Park we aim for children to develop the necessary knowledge and skills which will ensure that they have a life-time enjoyment of physical activity and understanding of a healthy lifestyle.

The six core values which are integral to our vision at Preston Park (resilience, responsibility, reflective, reciprocity, respectful and resourcefulness) are interwoven in every PE lesson taught in the school. Pupils learn resilience through the understanding that winning is not always the marker of success. They are responsible for the improvement of their own individual skills and are taught to be reflective of their performances and demonstration of these skills. Respect is an important part of every PE lesson at Preston Park and pupils demonstrate this through interactions with their peers in game situations.

Our curriculum begins with a focus on fundamental movement skills (FMS), building on the physical requirements of the EYFS framework, before moving on to focus on learning specific skills and gameplay for specific sports. By the end of their time at Preston Park, children will have had the opportunity to engage with sports such as basketball, football, tennis, dodgeball, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, rounders and cricket.

In addition, children in Year Four are given the opportunity to learn or develop swimming skills when their class participates in weekly swimming .Swimming enhances their motor skills and co-ordination; helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle and provides them with a lifelong skill. Each child ends the swimming programme with an increased confidence in the water and a new skill that they can build on in the future.

How do we deliver this effectively?

Our curriculum aim is to maximise the potential of all pupils ensuring that they are all engaging in physical activity at least once a week. PE is taught either by the class teacher or by our specialist team of sports coaches. Ongoing monitoring of the sports coach is maintained by the PE leader who regularly schedules occasions to observe lessons across the school and feedback is provided to senior leaders within the school. We recognise the value and impact of high quality PE teaching which can help children develop their coordination, fitness and their sense of fair play.

We use the TLG-PE scheme of Learning at Preston Park. Our PE Curriculum for KS1 is based on a multi skills approach to learning. In KS2 it is more sports specific, combined with opportunities for competition in accordance with the National Curriculum [1].

Our aims are to:

Follow a broad and balanced PE curriculum fulfilling the requirements of the National Curriculum.
Develop the fitness of the individual, by ensuring a good pace in lessons and incorporating fitness activities into Physical Education lessons as appropriate.
Develop programmes that meet the needs of all the children, ensuring inclusion for all in every PE lesson.
Engage in competitive sports and activities to promote teamwork and confidence, e.g. Sports Day, clubs, inter-school matches, competitions against other schools.
Encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle and promote a love for exercise which is lifelong.
Help develop evaluation skills and understanding of how to make a performance better.
In addition to the large variety of physical activity within the curriculum, we also offer a range of after school clubs such as Football, Basketball, Dodgeball and Multi-sports. This gives children an additional opportunity to develop their skills and be involved in competitive game situations.

At our school, there are ample opportunities for competition both inside and outside of school which allows pupils to develop their skills, demonstrate team work and resilience and succeed in sporting competitions. In addition, we also provide enrichment opportunities, including visits from famous athletes who promote the importance of physical activity and discipline within sport.

We have an inclusive approach which supports children with SEND. At Preston Park, teachers adapt and tailor their lessons to meet both the learning and physical needs of all children.

There is a strong belief that all children here at Preston Park are able to access our PE curriculum no matter what additional needs they may have. It is essential that all children are able to develop their co-ordination and sporting skills alongside improving their physical fitness as they develop. PE lessons are adapted for individual children to support their ability to access the activity alongside their peers. Simplified instructions, adapted equipment, as well as peer and adult support are all strategies that are used in order for SEND children to participate equally and confidently.

What does this look for our children?

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children work towards the Physical Development -Gross Motor Skills Early Learning Goal:

Negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and others;
Demonstrate strength, balance and coordination when playing;
Move energetically, such as jumping, dancing, hopping, skipping and climbing.

The Early Years Framework [2] states that children need to develop their coordination, agility and movement and also be taught the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Children are encouraged to be as physically active as possible, therefore children benefit from a 'free flow' setup during continuous provision, which enables them to play outside throughout the day all year round. Each day resources will be on offer to develop gross motor skills such as scooters, balls, hoops and dance ribbons. Through this child led approach, children practice key fundamental movement skills. Alongside this, adult led activities will also focus on gross motor skills.

Children are also taught the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle. This is done through weekly PE sessions where fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, balancing and catching, sports and associated knowledge and skills are focussed upon. These assist the children to improve their coordination, control and movement further. The children learn the basic skills, which will provide them with the foundations for the challenges of Key Stage 1 and beyond.

Key Stage One (Years One and Two)

In Key Stage One there is again, a strong focus on fundamental movement skills as they are the core skills that will play a part in every sport they will go on to play in the future. During these lessons children are continuing to progress skills in coordination and ways to control their body’s movements, as well as how to properly perform different types of throws, catch different types of balls and control and use their bodies correctly. These skills are broken down and taught step by step allowing children to build up the correct skill that they will use later in game situations.

	Year One	Year Two
Autumn Term	Throwing and catching Gymnastics/Dance	Throwing and catching Gymnastics/Dance
Spring Term	Attacking and defending Net and wall	Attacking and defending Net and wall
Summer Term	Athletics Attacking and defending Striking and fielding	Athletics Attacking and defending Striking and fielding

Lower Key Stage Two (Years Three and Four)

	Year Three	Year Four
Autumn Term	Basketball Gymnastics/Dance	Basketball Gymnastics/Dance Swimming (one class)
Spring Term	Tennis Football	Tennis Football Swimming (one class)
Summer Term	Athletics Cricket OAA	Athletics Cricket OAA

Swimming (Years Four to Five)

At Preston Park, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident, competent swimmer who feels safe and secure around water. Our aim is for each class to attend swimming lessons in Year 4 and continue to build on or catch up with their progress in Year 5, with further opportunities available in Year 6 if needed. This approach allows all children to leave Preston Park not only meeting the national expectation of swimming 25 metres using a range of strokes but also feeling confident enough to seek out opportunities to swim safely outside of school.

For many of our children, school swimming is their first experience of being in a swimming pool. Some may have never seen one before. Because of this, our first priority is to create a positive, welcoming introduction to swimming. We work hard to remove potential barriers—providing appropriate swimwear where needed, arranging visits to the leisure centre beforehand, showing children where they will change, and walking them through the routine—so they feel reassured and ready before stepping into the water. This has significantly reduced anxiety and helped our children enjoy their lessons from the very beginning.

Weekly lessons are held at Harrow Leisure Centre and led by qualified coaches, with class teachers and school staff accompanying the children. Initially, our swimming offer consisted of a half-term of lessons in Year 4. However, following feedback from pupils, we found that many did not continue swimming after their lessons ended, and their newly learned skills were not being built upon.

Thanks to the Sports Premium Funding, we’ve been able to extend our swimming programme. Top-up sessions are now offered in Years 5 and 6, ensuring that children have multiple opportunities to improve and retain their skills over time. Since introducing this extended provision, we’ve seen faster progress, greater enjoyment, and a noticeable increase in water confidence across the board.

Beyond learning how to swim, our programme also emphasises water safety. We believe it is essential that children understand how to stay safe in and around different types of water. Alongside pool-based lessons, we deliver water safety education through assemblies and classroom sessions. Pupils learn how to identify potential dangers, float, tread water, and signal for help—equipping them with the knowledge they need to stay safe in real-world situations.

Upper Key Stage Two (Years Five and Six)

	Year Five	Year Six
Autumn Term	Basketball Gymnastics/Dance	Basketball Gymnastics/Dance
Spring Term	Tennis Football	Tennis Football
Summer Term	Athletics Cricket OAA	Athletics Cricket OAA

Progression in Skills and Understanding

Our PE curriculum is sequenced precisely to ensure progression of knowledge, understanding and skills throughout a child’s primary education, thus enabling children to build upon prior experiences and apply these fluently, with confidence. Children also have the opportunity to further these skills at after school sports clubs and in competitions.

Athletics

In Key Stage One, during the latter half of the summer term, attention turns to athletics which coincides with the children’s annual sports day. Again, during this unit, the fundamental movement skills are continuously practiced through different events and children also learn how to handle new equipment safely and with a level of competence such as relay batons, foam javelins and a range of different balls. Children are taught the differences between different runs, for example, what we need to do to be able to run faster and what we should do if we want to run for longer distances.

Across Key Stage Two, during the latter half of the summer term, attention turns to athletics. During this time athletic events are the focus to ensure children are prepared for their sports day. They further develop their running technique - looking at how they can run faster and more effectively and they learn the difference between running for speed and endurance. This unit also provides children an opportunity to complete a range of athletic events within the running, throwing and jumping categories such as hurdles, relay, javelin, and long jump. An important focus during this unit is for children to compete against themselves to better their time or distance rather than focusing on winning against others.

Attacking and defending

Basketball

Across Key Stage Two, children will have a range of experience playing different invasion games. By learning the disciplines of different sports, children will continue to develop increasing skills linked to earlier fundamental movement skill units in EYFS and Key Stage One. Alongside this, children further develop their understanding of a range of tactics and continue building upon these every year. For example, the knowledge and skills pertaining to receiving passes and getting into a prime position to receive a ball. Throughout these units children are split into teams, and work in those groups throughout the unit. Each child in the team gets the opportunity to be their team's captain at least once. Captains are responsible for organising their teams, leading their warm ups and cool downs, and providing positive encouragement and corrections when needed. This helps further develop their communication skills, and give opportunities for leadership to those who may not actively seek it.

Cricket

Across Key Stage Two, the focus within cricket is to look at the basic batting technique and build upon this with each unit. Children are encouraged to begin hitting the ball into open spaces. They are also taught how to bowl accurately, firstly underarm and then overarm as well as being taught some of the different fielding positions and the aim of each fielder. Children learn to field effectively by throwing the ball to a closer fielder instead of running it in. The rules of the game are learnt gradually, and games are adapted to suit the stage of learning. For example, more concrete rules and an introduction of points and boundaries are not introduced until the latter stages of Key Stage Two.

Dance

In Key Stage One, children are introduced to the idea of creating movements to music. Children begin to associate certain movements with types of music or sounds. The children also build upon prior knowledge of creating routines by creating dance routines in partners and small groups. Children are taught the basic skills of dancing such as engaging with the audience and the importance of posture.

Across Key Stage Two, the dance units children continue to develop their understanding of performing a routine with a partner or group to music. This derives from children learning the appropriate moves for different types of music which use fast and slow rhythms, for example. How dancers use conditioning to improve their flexibility, strength and endurance to be able to complete routines will also be discussed. Children begin to learn different techniques to make their performances more interesting and are given more freedom to plan routines leading up to a performance in the final week. Alongside this, children are taught how to critique dance performances in a positive yet constructive way.

Football

Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)

In EYFS, children are encouraged to be as physically active as possible, therefore children benefit from a 'free flow' setup during continuous provision, which enables them to play outside throughout the day all year round. Each day resources will be on offer to develop gross motor skills such as scooters, balls, hoops and dance ribbons. Through this child led approach, children practice key fundamental movement skills. Alongside this, adult led activities will also focus on gross motor skills.

In Key Stage One, there is again, a strong focus on fundamental movement skills as they are the core skills that will play a part in every sport they will go on to play in the future. During these lessons children are continuing to progress skills in coordination and ways to control their body’s movements, as well as how to properly perform different types of throws; catch different types of balls; and how to manoeuvre a ball with their feet. These skills are broken down and taught step by step, allowing time for children to understand wholly how the different skills work. The skills are revisited over time – therefore in alignment with whole school pedagogy about how children learn best – revisiting and consolidating skills and understanding through different age appropriate applications.

Gymnastics

In Key Stage One, unit children learn different movements, skills and balances that underpin the discipline of gymnastics. Prior learning in the EYFS and during dance in Year 1 is built upon. Children are given the opportunity to learn how to create routines with a partner and/or small group using these newly acquired gymnastic skills. This allows children the freedom to use their creativity to come up with different routines using a range of different movements and balances. Children work towards performing a full routine at the end of the unit.

Across Key Stage Two, the gymnastics units, children will begin to learn more advanced skills such as increasingly difficult balances and advanced body control. Children will also begin to understand how gymnasts improve their flexibility and strength by conditioning to be able to complete routines. The units work towards children performing a routine with a partner or group as in KS1 but with increased skills and length. For these routines, children are given more freedom and increased time to work on their routines during the lesson. Performance points are constantly reinforced, and children are asked to ensure they are reinforcing these with their partners to ensure their performances are aesthetically pleasing. During these units, children will work on different aspects of their routine every lesson, building on it every week with the performance being shown in the final week.

Net and Wall

Outdoor Adventurous Activity (OAA)

During these units children develop their understanding of risk in a variety of land or water based adventurous activities. They take part in problem solving or survival activities requiring pupils to plan collaboratively in pairs or small groups, developing their skills of teamwork, communication and leadership. Current activities include climbing and orienteering. An area under development is to seek opportunities for different OAA activities such as canoeing, paddle boarding and horse riding.

Striking and Fielding

Swimming

It is the school’s aim that each class attends swimming sessions in Key Stage Two to enable children to leave as competent and confident swimmers. This happens for a term in year 4. The aim is that by the time children reach the end of their time at Preston Park, they have not only reached the Key Stage 2 statutory target of swimming 25 metres using a range of strokes, but some are achieving beyond this.

Tennis

In Key Stage One, during the summer term children learn the basics of tennis which build upon skills learnt in the EYFS. Children are taught basic skills of tennis including how to hold and manoeuvre a racket, move towards objects beginning to understand how to read the trajectory of the ball and make decisions accordingly. This improves their basic hand eye co-ordination. Through a variety of activities with partners and groups, children will have many opportunities to practice the different skills learned throughout the unit - and put their skills to the test within a range of different skill based games. The children will also begin to learn how tennis can be a competitive game and how it can be playing in pairs and independently.

Across Key Stage Two, during the summer term, children recap the basics of tennis which were learnt in the EYFS and KS1. The children will learn the different ways to hit the ball such as fore hand, back hand, volley and serve. Children will also learn how to control the ball and practise aiming at a certain area using the skill of hitting the ball with differing force. Through a variety of activities with partners and groups, children will have many opportunities to practise the different skills learned throughout the unit before putting their skills to the test within a range of different skill based games. The children will also continue to learn how tennis can be a competitive game and how it can be played in pairs and independently.

Throwing and catching

Oracy is a priority across the school and we ensure pupils use subject-specific vocabulary accurately in lessons. See our vocabulary progression map to see where vocabulary is taught, revisited and consolidated across our curriculum:

Physical Education Vocabulary Progression Map

How does our PE curriculum contribute to and develop our 21st Century learner?

Physical activity has a multitude of benefits for children both physically and mentally as well as socially and emotionally. Taking part in regular physical activity is a habit that we encourage all children at Preston Park to adopt from a young age as an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

The outcomes of a rich, rigorous and connect experience of learning in PE will be a child who can:

demonstrate knowledge about game play in a range of sports
use some level of skill to engage in a range of sports
show an adequate level of fitness
understand how physical activity fits into the broader picture of a healthy lifestyle
demonstrate some level of confidence with physical activity and be willing to participate

Our children have been extremely successful in borough competitions throughout the academic year. Our girls Year 6 football team won the league after being unbeaten in all their games. Our boys football team made it to the semi-finals. Our Year 3 and 4 athletics team finished 3^rd overall in Brent and our Year 5 and 6 team finished 2^nd. Additionally, our basketball team won the Brent tournament and went on the represent the borough in the youth games. We also did extremely well in competitions in cross country and cricket finishing in the top 4.

Our curriculum ensures that children are ready to continue physical education at secondary school, but they are also able to use physical education in many contexts in everyday life, something we actively encourage.