P.E
Physical Education (PE) at Ashleigh
Our PE Curriculum
At Ashleigh, we believe that Physical Education (PE) plays an important role in helping children develop healthy, active lifestyles. Our PE curriculum encourages all children to enjoy physical activity, develop confidence, work collaboratively and build important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Our curriculum follows the National Curriculum for Physical Education and provides a broad range of sporting and physical activities. Through carefully planned lessons, children develop their physical skills, knowledge and understanding, while learning the importance of teamwork, resilience, fairness and respect.
We aim to ensure that every child, regardless of their ability or starting point, has opportunities to participate, succeed and develop a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.
Intent – What Do We Want Our Children to Learn?
At Ashleigh, our intention is to provide a high-quality PE curriculum that inspires all children to participate in physical activity and develop the confidence, competence and motivation to lead healthy, active lives.
We aim to develop children's fundamental movement skills from an early age, providing strong foundations for more complex sporting skills as they progress through school.
Our curriculum is designed to ensure that children:
Build and apply fundamental movement skills, including running, jumping, throwing, catching, balance, agility and coordination.
Develop increasingly accurate and controlled movements and sport-specific techniques.
Learn to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and demonstrate teamwork, fairness and respect.
Develop an understanding of simple tactics, strategies and the importance of evaluating and improving performance.
Recognise the importance of regular physical activity for maintaining physical health and wellbeing.
Develop confidence and essential water safety skills through swimming.
Experience enjoyment, achievement and personal success in physical activity.
We aim for children to leave Ashleigh with the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes needed to participate confidently in a wide range of physical activities, both in school and beyond.
Implementation – How Do We Teach PE?
Our PE curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced from Reception through to Year 6. Children revisit and build upon previously taught skills, gradually developing greater accuracy, control, confidence and independence.
Lessons provide opportunities for children to practise skills, apply them in different activities and reflect on their own performance.
Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception)
In Reception, children develop the fundamental movement skills that form the foundations of future physical activity.
Our curriculum focuses on running, jumping, hopping, throwing and catching. Children also develop their balance, coordination, spatial awareness and ability to follow instructions.
Through enjoyable, practical activities, children learn to move confidently, explore different ways of moving and develop positive attitudes towards physical activity.
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
In Key Stage 1, children continue to develop and master fundamental movement skills, applying them with increasing confidence and coordination.
They participate in activities including:
Fundamental movement skills such as rolling, bouncing, throwing, catching and kicking a ball.
Dance and gymnastics, developing movement sequences, balance and body control.
Athletics, exploring running, jumping and throwing techniques.
Simple games, including striking and fielding, net and wall activities and playground games.
Outdoor and adventurous activities that encourage teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
Children begin to understand simple rules, make decisions during games and develop the skills needed to work effectively with others.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)
In Years 3 and 4, children build upon their fundamental movement skills and begin applying them to a wider range of sports and physical activities.
Our curriculum includes invasion games such as netball, handball and rugby, alongside badminton, dodgeball, cricket, rounders, athletics, dance and gymnastics.
Children develop sport-specific techniques, learn simple attacking and defending tactics and begin to recognise how movement, positioning and teamwork can improve performance.
Outdoor and adventurous activities provide opportunities to develop cooperation, communication and problem-solving skills.
Swimming begins in Year 4, helping children develop water confidence, swimming techniques and an understanding of water safety.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)
In Years 5 and 6, children apply their knowledge and skills with increasing independence, accuracy and control.
They participate in a broad range of activities, including football, rugby, netball, hockey, tennis, cricket, rounders, athletics, dance and gymnastics.
Children develop a greater understanding of attacking and defending strategies, learn to make tactical decisions and evaluate their own and others' performances.
Outdoor and adventurous activities become increasingly challenging, with opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, map-reading and problem-solving skills.
Swimming continues in Years 5 and 6, with a focus on improving swimming technique, stamina, water confidence and personal survival skills.
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
Our PE curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that children build upon their previous learning as they move through school.
For example, children progress from learning how to throw and catch a ball in Reception and Key Stage 1 to applying these skills in sports such as netball, cricket and rounders in Key Stage 2.
Similarly, children develop from exploring simple movements and balances in gymnastics to creating increasingly complex sequences that demonstrate control, coordination and precision.
In games, children progress from understanding simple rules and working with others to applying more advanced tactics, making decisions and demonstrating leadership.
This progression ensures that children develop not only their physical abilities but also their understanding of how and why different skills and strategies are used.
Supporting Children with SEND – The STEP Approach
At Ashleigh, we believe that PE should be inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for every child. We recognise that children develop physical skills at different rates and may require adaptations to participate confidently and successfully.
To support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), teachers can use the STEP approach, adapting the Space, Task, Equipment and People involved in an activity.
S – Space
We adapt the space in which an activity takes place to meet children's individual needs.
This may include reducing the size of a playing area, creating clearly marked boundaries, providing quieter spaces or adjusting distances between children and equipment.
T – Task
We adapt the activity or challenge to ensure that children can participate and experience success.
For example, teachers may simplify instructions, break skills into smaller steps, reduce the number of rules or provide additional time to complete a task.
Children may also be given different levels of challenge depending on their individual abilities and needs.
E – Equipment
We adapt equipment to make activities more accessible.
This may include using larger or softer balls, lighter equipment, brightly coloured resources, lower targets or equipment that is easier to grip and control.
P – People
We adapt how children are grouped and supported during activities.
This may involve working with a partner, using smaller groups, providing additional adult support or pairing children with supportive peers.
These adaptations help ensure that all children can participate meaningfully while developing their physical skills, independence and confidence.
Our aim is to maintain high expectations for every child while providing the appropriate support and opportunities for individual achievement.
Wider Sporting Opportunities
At Ashleigh, we recognise the importance of providing opportunities for children to enjoy physical activity beyond their PE lessons.
We encourage participation in inter-school sporting competitions, swimming events and local sporting opportunities, helping children develop teamwork, confidence and a sense of achievement.
These opportunities help children discover new interests, develop their abilities and enjoy being physically active.
Impact – What Difference Does Our PE Curriculum Make?
The impact of our PE curriculum is reflected in the physical skills, knowledge, confidence and positive attitudes that children develop throughout their time at Ashleigh.
Through our carefully planned and progressive curriculum, we aim for children to:
Apply fundamental movement skills and sport-specific techniques effectively.
Understand and use tactics and strategies in different sporting situations.
Work cooperatively, showing respect, fairness, resilience and good sportsmanship.
Evaluate their own performance and identify ways to improve.
Develop confidence in swimming and understand the importance of water safety.
Recognise the benefits of physical activity for their health and wellbeing.
Develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity that continues beyond primary school.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Ashleigh feeling confident, capable and motivated to enjoy physical activity throughout their lives.