At Duchy of Lancaster we value the importance of Sports and Physical activity and the impact of these on physical development, mental wellbeing and academic progress.

Coaching and Clubs

We invest in the specialist support of an external Sports Coach to support our Teachers in teaching PE as well as running after school clubs. 

EYFS Curriculum

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Physical Development is identified as one of the three Prime Areas of Learning. It enables children to experience happy, healthy, active lives at the beginning of their learning and life journey. Within the EYFS curriculum, pupils develop their fine and gross motor skills through a wide range of activities, exercises and sensory play which will be deeply focused on co-ordinating, special awareness, working with others and movement. As a school we provide the pupils with opportunities to access both indoor and outdoor activities, supporting children to build fundamental skills such as agility, special awareness, balance, core strength, co-ordination, running, jumping, throwing and catching. This helps to develop the child physically and mentally, supporting them to  work and play co-operatively and take turns with others.

Key Stage 1

In Key stage 1 our children are taught the fundamental movement skills, which allows them to become increasingly competent and confident. This is achieved through a wide and broad range of opportunities where children can extend their agility, balance and coordination both individually, as well as with others, through team games and sports. Through teamwork and other activities, children are able to engage in the early stages of competitive and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations which test and develop their fundamental skills.

Key Stage 2

Our children continue to apply and develop their existing range of skills and make connections between different areas of PE. They start to identify and notice patterns, as well as sequence of events, brought on by their knowledge and skill within games, sports and competitive play. Through reflection and peer learning, children continue to develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities, as well as recognising their own successes and building on their personal bests.

Swimming and water safety

At Key Stage 2, our children learn a wide range of strokes as well as develop a good solid ability to endure and develop stamina in their swimming ability and confidence. One of the most important facts and realisations our children learn is one of the most important reason swimming is mandatory is because swimming is the only sport which can help save your life as well as others.

Children will be taught to:

• swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres along side swimming in shallow and deep water
• use a range of strokes effectively (front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.

Through weekly PE sessions there are several skills that we want children to develop:

Self-Belief

• The ability to believe you can achieve.
• Have the self-belief and confidence to succeed and reach your personal best in every lesson.

Teamwork

• Treating everyone equally, supporting each other and working together to achieve at your teams very best level leaving no one behind.
• Good team work leads to team celebration where you can celebrate each other’s success, accomplishments and creating a positive and thriving sportsmanship environment where you can even celebrate the opponent’s skills and success. 

Respect

• Respect for team players, teachers’ coaches and for your opponents as well as yourself.
• Accept victory and defeat with respect, honour and grace allowing everyone to express themselves within a safe and respectful environment treating one another who you wish to be treated.

Determination

• Determination is about the journey you go on.
• It is about having the mental strength and the self-discipline to overcome obstacles, commit to your goals and keep working to achieve your personal best.