Whilst competition in sport is motivating for some children; it is not as motivating for others. We therefore encourage children to focus on personal development. We ensure that children have competitive opportunities but this is not the primary focus of PE. By setting challenges for themselves, children are able to identify their own strengths and areas for development. Through this we can ensure that all children access their learning and know how to become even better. This approach encourages children to show resilience, respect, love and honesty in the same way they would be expected to in classroom based lessons.
We are proud that our children show our values of love, honesty, respect and resilience when taking part in competitions or when representing the school at events. We want our children to be competitive in the right way, to enjoy success but also empathise with and encourage others.
As part of our membership of Mid Sussex Active, we are able to access festivals and competitions with other schools. We regularly compete in netball, football, cross country, swimming and athletics with our neighbouring small schools. We are also able to progress to county wide competitions. Our football and cross country teams have been successful in recent years – representing Mid Sussex in both events and Sussex at the Southern England football finals.
We also regularly attend festivals. These are non-competitive and are intended to give children opportunities to try new sports as well as giving them the chance to meet and play with children from other schools. Our children are able to try a range of sports including boccia, curling, hockey, cricket, rugby, badminton and tennis.
We have also used our PE & Sports Premium funding to provide skateboard workshops, outdoor adventure days, forest school opportunities and inspirational sessions with athletes. We have been pleased in recent years to welcome former gymnast Courtney Orange and current wheelchair basketball player Joel Clifton to deliver assemblies and workshops.
Our PE lessons are delivered by class teachers once a week and our PE coaches once a week. Dance, gym, games and athletics are taught each year.
In EYFS the children focus on fundamental movement and physical development for example. moving, jumping, throwing and combining these skills.
In KS1, children are introduced to different games and applying their skills in different contexts.
In lower KS2, children play small sided games to further develop their skills and begin to consider teamwork, tactics and strategy. In upper KS2 this progresses to larger scale games.