Physical Education at St Nicholas

The Physical Education curriculum will: 

Physical Education at St Nicholas Primary School aims to ensure that all pupils develop physical literacy and the fundamental knowledge, understanding and skills to excel in a wide range of physical activities. We aim to ensure that the children’s experience of Physical Education is positive and motivating and that children’s attitudes to a healthy lifestyle are firmly embedded in our curriculum Children will develop knowledge and skills across the main concepts of Gymnastics, Dance Games, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (OAA) and in KS2 Athletics and swimming. All children will be offered opportunities to compete in sport and other activities, in order to build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.  

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

In EYFS we provide opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, which supports our children in building core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility. Our children have access to free flow play for sustained periods of time and are encouraged to use our large outdoor environment including our mud kitchen, play equipment and large sandpit. Children in PE sessions have the chance to explore basic movements in games, dance and gymnastics. Children begin to explore why exercise is important for health.  

Key Stage 1 

In Years 1 and 2, children will develop a range of basic movements skills. They will learn to travel with, send and receive a ball and other equipment in different ways. They will learn to develop these skills for simple target, net, striking / fielding and invasion type – games, beginning to use tactics for attacking and defending. In Gymnastics children are taught to develop their balance, control and coordination across a range of movements and levels. They will also work sequence and travel, linking a range of movements with increasing control. Within Dance, children will learn to copy simple shapes and travel in a variety of ways showing different rhythms and speeds. Throughout all the unit’s children will be reflecting on their own performances and discussing sporting values.  

Key Stage 2 

In years 3 to 6 the prior knowledge from KS1 is built up on through the teaching of specific sports. Children will continue to build on their ability to travel, send and receive a ball, with a bigger focus on working within small teams to achieve this in a game. They will begin to learn tactics for attacking and defending, selecting and applying the correct skills. In Gymnastics and dance, movements become more complex and children begin linking complex movements with increased control. They develop skills such as working in unison and canon and continue to develop their ability to work in small groups. In Athletics, children will be introduced to different types of running, throwing and jumping, over the course of the units these skills will be developed to increase accuracy and control. Children will be taught to evaluate their own performance and that of the other children, using this knowledge to reflect and improve 

In year 3 and 4, children develop their swimming and water safety skills through a block of swimming lessons. These lessons are planned and taught by trained swimming instructors who provide targets for each of the ability groups. 

We are very proud to announce that we have achieved the GOLD School Games Mark Award for our commitment and engagement in the School Games for 2022/2023.

Our school is a proud member of Hull Active Schools. Hull Active Schools encourages and develops a sustainable support structure for physical education, physical activity and school sport that enriches the health and well-being of all young people in Hull. Our school is committed to ensuring all children are reaching the Active 60 daily government recommendations. We participate in at least 2 school games events every half term. Please visit the Hull Active Schools website to find out more: https://www.hullactiveschools.org/about