Earlham Primary School

Our physical education curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness; 

We believe that physical activity matters, that negotiating our way in the world is as much a physical as an intellectual journey;

We follow the national curriculum and our units of learning build on previous skills and knowledge;

Our children start school movement poor: their co-ordination, ball skills and spatial awareness and judgement are under-developed. Our PE curriculum is therefore designed to develop fundamental movement skills of balance, locomotion and ball skills;

There is a deliberate repetition of key locomotion and ball skills units from Reception through to Years 1 and 2, to enable the children to practice and further hone the fundamental skills they will need to participate in the games units offered in Key Stage 2;

Each class has a weekly session of indoor and outdoor PE; indoor units include gymnastics and dance; outdoor units are games-based;

The indoor PE curriculum revisits activities and skills to reinforce previous learning and ensure children further develop these skills over their school journey;

Each year group studies a unit of work around team work and problem-solving, so children develop their understanding of what makes an effective team, with a focus on co-operation and responsibility;

Specialist coaches introduce the children to a range of competitive sports, talent spotting, and coach teams to participate in local competitions;

Opportunities to compete in sports build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect;

Our Year 4 pupils attend weekly swimming lessons;

Year 6 pupils enjoy a residential programme which involves a range of ambitious activities including archery, orienteering, canoeing, sailing and climbing;

Healthy diet and lifestyle are explicitly taught as part of our science curriculum in Years 2, 4 and 6, and as part of our PSHE curriculum.