Physical Education

Intent

At St Nicholas School, we aim to ensure that all children leave us prepared for the world as ‘Global Explorers’ equipped to pursue any career they choose. Our Physical Education lessons are planned and taught in line with the National Curriculum and allows our children to be ‘skilful’ and ‘resourceful’ as well as experiencing different opportunities which allows them to be ‘aspirational’ for their future. As a school we aim to ensure that all pupils enjoy, succeed and excel in physically demanding activities and competitive sport. We provide opportunities for pupils to develop key skills and become physically confident in a way, which supports their health and fitness.

Our Physical Education curriculum is progressive and allows learners to work towards the big idea of ‘skilfulness’ by developing their abilities in specific sports fields, which build from Foundation Stage all the way through to year six.  The success of our curriculum is seen in many of our pupils’ who go on to participate in sports teams and groups outside of school.

Physical Education sessions at St Nicholas are a fantastic opportunity for those children who are experienced in a particular discipline, to demonstrate their abilities to their peers and to take a leading role, modelling their skills and providing demonstrations. This enables the children to work towards the big idea of ‘resourcefulness’ by learning from their peers and equipping themselves with the skills they need in order to improve.

Physical Activity is so important to a child’s physical and mental development that we strive to ensure that every child has an opportunity to participate in extra-curricular sports clubs and local cluster competitions. Instilling positive attitudes towards physical exercise and competitive sports at a young age can create healthy habits for life.

Physical Education at St Nicholas

Term 1 - Invasion Games

An invasion game is used to describe any game where the objective is to attack the opposition's territory and score a goal or point. They are usually played between teams of equal players and these fast paced games focus on teamwork, maintaining possession, scoring and defending.

Term 2 – Core Strength and Gymnastics

Building core strength through basic gymnastics, provides an opportunity for children to improve a multitude of physical fundamentals such as body awareness, spatial awareness, balance, flexibility, and physical fitness.

Term 3 – Dance and Movement

Much like ‘core strength and gymnastics’, ‘dance and movement’ also provides an opportunity for children to improve a multitude of physical fundamentals; but delivers these opportunities through a more fun, lively and creative medium. 

Term 4 – Net and Ball Games

Net and ball games help to develop hand-eye co-ordination, agility and physical fitness.  They also help to increase reaction times.

Term 5 – Striking and Fielding

Striking and fielding encompasses the team games cricket and rounders.  Players on the batting team strike an object and attempt to run between two or more points before the fielding team can recuperate.  These games are very versatile and can be adapted for any age or level of ability.

Term 6 – Athletics

Athletics is comprised of a variety of different sporting disciplines, from running and relays to throwing events such as shot-put and vortex throwing.  Athletics is a great opportunity for all children to take part in sporting events that they haven’t tried before and often leads to them discovering hidden talents.