Why do we teach PE?
First and foremost we teach PE at Westcliff to improve the health and wellbeing of our children. We also want to provide opportunities for children to represent our school in numerous sports as this raises their confidence, builds team working skills and competitiveness.
PE also gives our children the opportunity to express themselves, for example through dance and gymnastics.
How do we teach PE?
We use a Heads, Hands, Heart model to support our planning, (based upon the National Curriculum) delivery and evaluation.
In the Early Years children enjoy PE once a week where they learn and practise fundamental skills as part of the physical development early learning goal. They refine their gross and fine motor skills through throwing, catching and movement improving their hand/eye coordination.
In Key Stage One and Two, children enjoy PE lessons once a week. During these lessons we continue to practise and refine the children's fundamental skills, to ensure they have the capability to be successful in a wide range of sports. The children also learn how exercise affects their bodies in a positive way and they have the chance to develop a love of sport and exercise. We have specialist teachers in to teach some aspects of PE, for example dance and Blackpool Football Club support our PE Subject Leader with planning and support teacher development.
At Westcliff, we encourage the children to be passionate, motivated and successful. We do this by offering a varied, broad and balanced curriculum; as well as promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. We aim to develop crucial skills and attributes which are required for children's long term future, not just in sport but in all aspects of life using sport and physical activity to do so.
Children also have the opportunity to attend before and after school clubs to further enhance their skills for specific sports. For example we run a Multi-Skills club for our infants where they can enhance their throwing, catching skills and enjoy keeping fit with their friends.
We take part in a girls and boys football inter-school league, athletics competitions, Change for Life and dance festivals.
We also encourage our children to make the link between exercise and mental health. An organisation called ‘Healthy Heads’ deliver a course of lessons to the Year 4 children, encouraging positive well-being.
Here is a curriculum overview showing the sequencing of our PE lessons and progression within school:
Physical Education Curriculum