Physical Education

Our PE curriculum at Ashleigh has been designed to ensure that all children will be given an opportunity to develop a lifelong interest in sport, fitness and PE. We believe that we are ‘All different, All Equal, All Learning’ and that PE should be an inclusive subject which helps everyone to develop their understanding of the health (and mental health) benefits of physical activity which will allow them to make informed decisions about healthy living in the future. 

We ensure that children’s learning demonstrates clear progression from year to year. To achieve this in PE, all teachers use GetSet4PE planning units and year group progression documents. We value the expertise of external coaches who can offer learning opportunities that enhance those delivered by our teachers. It is our intent to build relationships with external providers of sport to develop community links and allow children at Ashleigh to experience extracurricular sport.  As PE attracts significant funding through the Primary PE and Sport Premium, the PE lead and members of the Senior Leadership Team ensure this spending is in line within the 5 key priorities:

1. The engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity
2. The profile of PE being raised across the school
3. Increased knowledge, confidence and skills of staff in teaching PE
4. Broader experience of a range of sports and activities offered to all pupils
5. Increased participation in competitive sport

In order to give children a broad range of experiences of different sports we use a curriculum map to ensure children learn to play at least 18 different sports during their time at Ashleigh. To ensure that children meet the expectations of our curriculum they are timetabled to do a minimum of 2 hours of PE per week. The focus on PE teaching in EYFS and KS1 is on fundamental skills whilst KS2 focus on specific sports. Children are encouraged to improve their fitness levels during PE lessons, including muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility.

We also place a high value on secure and detailed knowledge of individual sports, rules, tactics and specific vocabulary related to a given sport. We recognise the close link between PE and the Science curriculum. Scientific concepts relating to PE are reinforced in PE lessons.. As well as the knowledge and skills associated with PE, children are also taught communication and the personal qualities of our ‘Guiding Stars’ through our PE lessons.

The following Sports are all taught at Ashleigh – To learn more about progression in the knowledge, skills and key vocabulary taught in each year group click on one of the sports below.

PE in EYFS

By the end of Year 6, Ashleigh children will be able to talk confidently about sporting technique, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices using the correct terminology. They will be able to reflect on their own performance and think about how they can improve it.

They will have acquired knowledge of a range of great sports and activities and understand the skills that can be developed by taking part in them.

By the end of year 6 all children at Ashleigh will have been given opportunities to:
• visit a professional sporting facility.
• meet professional athletes and sporting heroes through assemblies linked to sporting events, culture week or our ‘Guiding Stars’.
• develop leadership skills through leading warm ups in KS1 and applying for sports leaders and supporting sports events in KS2.
• represent Ashleigh at county or cluster competitions or festivals. All children in KS2 will also compete in termly intra house competitions.
• achieve a red belt in Karate.
• experience a broad range of sports and sporting activities as part of their regular PE lessons, these will include activities which take place outside of the school grounds.
• compete/participate in cluster sporting events organised by Ashleigh Primary School.
• work towards a public performance in Dance in KS1 (year 1) and KS2 (year 5).
• watch significant sporting events and achievements though assemblies and use of BBC sports clips.
• leave primary school as a confident and competent swimmer.