Sport

At Arunside Primary school we strive to deliver high-quality Physical Education lessons that are essential in ensuring physical, emotional and social development whilst instilling healthy habits. Our aim is to inspire our children to participate, succeed, be ambitious and enjoy being active; increasing the likelihood of this continuing into adulthood.

We want our Physical Education curriculum to support children in developing strong building learning powers. We aim to encourage our children to work as individuals, in groups and in teams and take on different roles and responsibilities, including leadership, to develop concepts of fairness, teamwork, problem solving and communication. We want to teach children the necessary skills to keep themselves safe, such as being able to swim, and build confidence through Forest School.

Through the range of learning opportunities that Physical Education offers we hope that our children learn how to be effective in competitive, creative and challenging situations.

Physical Education at Arunside Primary School provides challenging and enjoyable learning through a range of sports including; invasion games, striking and fielding games, gymnastics and dance. Our curriculum is based on the Suffolk Physical Education scheme, which is carefully sequenced throughout KS1 and KS2 to equip children with the knowledge and skills needed to build upon the following year. It focuses on the development of agility, balance and coordination, healthy competition and cooperative learning. The teaching of terminology enables children to assess their own and peer’s performance and reflect on ways to improve. Children discuss the impact of exercise on the body and ways to maintain good physical and mental health. Competence in swimming is covered in year 4 and 5.

Our children participate in two high-quality PE lessons each week and receive specialist teaching from our dance professional, Sophie McEwan, and onsite PE coach, Natalie Jagota. Our children are provided with inclusive opportunities to engage in new and alternative sports as well as extra-curricular activities during and after school, in addition to participating in competitive sporting events and festivals.

Each year a small group of Year 5 children are invited to become Playground Leaders and develop into sporting role models for the younger children, assisting with lunch-time clubs. Also, a small group of Year 6 children are welcomed as PE Monitors, taking on the responsibility of looking after the school equipment. Both groups love these job roles and assisting with our annual Sports day. Children in Years 2, 4 and 6 take part in Forest School for two half terms of the academic year. This promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles and enables all children to achieve with a degree of challenge, develop knowledge and understanding of their surroundings, demonstrate independence, make a positive contribution to the local community and increase emotional wellbeing.

We are committed to using the Sports Premium funding to enhance the quality of teaching and increase the opportunities for all Arunside children to be active and engaged.

Children are motivated to participate in a range of sports and activities through fun and inviting lessons. We nurture a love for sport and all children are given opportunities to demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best. The children are equipped with a wealth of Physical Education knowledge and skills that they are able to use instinctively and can transfer to other sports and new activities. Children are physically active, which contributes to improved focus in class. Our children leave Arunside with an understanding of the importance of exercise and how to manage a healthy active lifestyle which we hope will lead to living a happy and healthy life.