Intent

At The Oaks Infant School, we are committed to delivering a high-quality physical education (PE) curriculum that inspires and engages all our children, fostering a lifelong love for physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Our intent is to ensure that every child:

• Develops Fundamental Movement Skills: We aim for each child to develop and refine key physical abilities such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching, which provide a foundation for a wide variety of sports and physical activities.
• Engages in Healthy Competition: We intend to instil a sense of fair play, teamwork, and sportsmanship, encouraging children to enjoy competition in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Enhances Physical, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing: Our curriculum is designed to promote not just physical skills but also social interaction, emotional resilience, and the importance of teamwork and cooperation.
• Explores Diverse Activities: We provide a broad range of physical activities, including traditional sports, dance, gymnastics, and outdoor pursuits, ensuring that children can discover their interests and talents.
• Promotes Lifelong Healthy Habits: We aim to educate children about the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle and making healthy choices, setting the foundation for their future wellbeing.

Implementation

To realise our intent, The Oaks Infant School have created a well-structured, engaging PE curriculum that adheres to the National Curriculum guidelines and best practices. Our implementation strategy includes:

• Progressive Curriculum Design: We follow a planned progression that builds on skills each term and across year groups, ensuring children develop confidence and competence as they move through the school.
• Highly Qualified Staff: Take Pride Staff work collaboratively with classroom teachers, providing professional development and support to ensure all staff are equipped to deliver high-quality PE lessons.
• Inclusive Practices: Lessons are designed to be adaptable so that all children, regardless of ability, can participate and thrive. We use adapted approaches to cater to individual needs.
• Partnerships and Community Engagement: We engage with local sports clubs, coaches, and community organisations to provide additional opportunities for our children, fostering a sense of belonging and community involvement. Children’s involvement in physical opportunities outside of school are celebrated within our school community.
• Assessment and Feedback: Routine formative assessments provide instant feedback to children, helping them understand their progress and areas for improvement, while summative assessments report on skill acquisition at the end of each unit.

Impact

The implementation of our PE curriculum leads to substantial, measurable outcomes in our children, which can be evidenced by:

• Skill Acquisition and Competence: Through regular observations and assessments, we note significant improvements in children's fundamental movement skills and overall physical competence by the end of each term.
• Increased Participation: Our records show a high level of engagement, with 100% of students actively participating in PE lessons, and a some taking part in extracurricular physical activities and competitions outside school hours.
• Positive Attitudes and Behaviours: Children demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of physical activity, with many expressing enjoyment and enthusiasm towards participating in PE lessons. Behaviour is exemplary, and instances of cooperation and encouragement among peers are common.
• Healthier Lifestyle Choices: Children are increasingly equipped with the knowledge and understanding of healthy habits, reflected in their discussion about food choices and their commitment to remaining active beyond school.

In conclusion, at The Oaks Infant School, our PE programme is not only ambitious and comprehensive but is also closely aligned with Ofsted’s outstanding criteria. We consistently monitor, review, and refine our practice to ensure that it remains responsive to the needs of our children and effectively contributes to their overall educational journey.