At Altmore, PE is taught through a range of sports both in the hall and in the playground. Our lessons develop children’s basic motor skills and movements as well as agility, co-ordination and balance. They then apply these skills in a range of activities which is mapped out over the year for each year group. The children at Altmore participate in team games both in and out of school and build on communication and teamwork skills.
In EYFS
It is important for children to learn physical development skills which they do through exciting and engaging PE lessons. These lessons are taught by our sports coach and the class teacher. PE lessons in EYFS focus on the following skills:
- core strength and coordination
- fine motor skills
- gross motor skills
- balance
- agility
A big part of the children’s PE sessions is getting changed so children learn to independently dress and undress. Children participate in a range of games such as Tug of War, Parachute games and jungle animal games which involves moving using different body parts at different height levels. Children in EYFS also use balance apparatus and use a range of movements to travel across them. Both of these activities combined support the development of their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and agility.
Before children can write, they need to develop muscle strength in their shoulders, arms, elbows and wrists which is all supported by PE sessions. Continuous provision allows children to practise and apply what they have learnt in PE lessons. They have access to climbing and balancing equipment as well as smaller resources such as bats, balls, hoops and quoits daily.
In KS1
In KS1 the children are taught fundamental movement skills to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. Each term the children learn new skills which enable them to eventually play team games. The termly learning consists of:
Throwing and catching Throwing and Catching (Hot potato)
Children are taught a range of techniques to master underarm throwing as well as techniques to catch from a range of height and distances. Once the children are competent in these skills, they apply them in a game of Hot Potato.
Dance/Gymnastics
The children are taught a range of supports, balances and movements including rolls on the floor and at higher levels. They then go on to create a sequence of moves to make a dance/routine to perform within their class.
Football
Children are taught skills needed to control a football including various speeds, dribbling and passing and stopping the ball. They learn about spatial awareness when in control of the ball before playing a team game.
Throwing and catching (Handball)
The children are taught to develop their throwing and catching skills through the game Handball. They work on improving their passing and catching as well as over arm throwing.
Athletics
Children in KS1 learn techniques for running which helps to improve their gross motor skills. They learn how to run in a relay race including passing the baton which works on gross motor skills. The children also learn to jump for height as well as distance.
In addition to weekly PE sessions, children in KS1 have the opportunity to take part in extra – curricular ‘Gifted and Talented’ and ‘Change4Life’ sessions where they take part in a range of fitness
activities and team games.
Tennis
The children learn techniques for holding a racket and controlling a tennis ball whilst developing awareness of the equipment. The children learn the correct standing position to be able to hit a ball with the racket as well as the correct forearm to hit the tennis ball over a net.
Useful Links
Useful texts
Find a Spot (A Sporty Day) – Eric Hill
Ready Steady Mo! – Mo Farah
The Frog Olympics – Brian Moses
Tennis Shoes – Noel Streatfeild
Women in Sport – Rachel Ignotofsky
On your marks. Get set. Gold! – Scott Allen
Enrichment
We consider enrichment activities to be an important part of our children’s learning, providing children with stimulating and engaging practical experiences that support the curriculum and create a love for learning. Throughout the school year, children take part in a variety of enrichment activities. These include: visitors in school, visits from authors, educational visits, competitions, performances and celebrating our ‘Altmore Achievers’ in a weekly assembly.
Inspiring a love of learning in the resilient and confident leaders of tomorrow.