'Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does ...' - Nelson Mandela

At St Peter’s, we believe that every child has the right to lead a healthy, active and fulfilling life. As a Catholic school, we are committed to developing the whole child, recognising the important contribution that physical activity makes to children’s physical, emotional, social and mental wellbeing.

Our PE curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong love of sport and physical activity, while developing the skills, knowledge, confidence and resilience children need to enjoy being active. We want every child to feel successful, included and motivated to take part.

Developing skills for life

PE is taught through two weekly lessons, following the National Curriculum. In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children develop fundamental movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination. As they progress through Key Stage 2, these skills are developed further through a wide range of sports, games and physical activities.

Children learn to apply their skills in different situations, work with others, solve problems, compete fairly and evaluate their own performance. We encourage children to recognise their achievements and develop the resilience to keep trying when things are challenging.

Our curriculum is built around four key areas:

• Move – developing physical skills, movement and sporting techniques.
• Think – understanding how and why we move, make decisions and improve.
• Feel – developing confidence, resilience, self-belief and a positive attitude towards physical activity.
• Connect – developing teamwork, leadership, communication and respect for others.

A broad and inclusive curriculum

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to discover activities they enjoy and in which they can succeed. Alongside traditional sports such as swimming, tennis, netball and cricket, children experience a diverse range of activities including tri-golf, curling, handball, parkour and ultimate frisbee.

Lessons are carefully adapted so that all children can participate and make progress. Teachers use modelling, demonstrations, individual targets, group activities and appropriate challenge to ensure that children are supported and encouraged to reach their potential.

We also place a strong emphasis on knowledge and vocabulary. Children learn and revisit important PE vocabulary as they move through the school, building their understanding of movement, fitness, health and sport.

Ultimately, we want our children to leave St Peter’s as confident, enthusiastic and resilient young people who understand the importance of being active and have the skills and positive attitudes to make healthy, active choices throughout their lives.

How Families Can Support Physical Activity

We believe that developing healthy, active habits is a partnership between school and home. There are many simple ways families can help children develop a positive attitude towards physical activity and encourage them to enjoy being active throughout their lives.

• Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school every week. PE kit should come into school on a Monday and go home on a Friday to be washed. This allows us to make the most of opportunities for physical activity and respond flexibly to changes in the timetable or weather. Our PE kit consists of white polo-shirt and royal blue shorts, white socks, trainers and a navy blue tracksuit.

• Encourage your child to be active outside school. This could include walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, playing in the park, joining a sports club, taking part in family activities or simply enjoying active games together. Regular opportunities to be active help children develop physical skills, confidence, resilience and healthy habits.
• Encourage your child to try something new. Not every child will enjoy the same sport. Giving children opportunities to experience different activities can help them discover what they enjoy and develop confidence in their own abilities.
• Be active together. Children are more likely to develop positive attitudes towards physical activity when it is part of family life. A walk, bike ride, trip to the park or active game can be a great opportunity to Move, Think, Feel and Connect together.
• Support our wider PE and sporting opportunities. We welcome parents and carers who are able to volunteer to support school sporting events and clubs. Your support helps us provide children with an even wider range of opportunities to participate and develop their skills.

There are many excellent resources available to help families find enjoyable and achievable ways to keep children active. We have included some recommended websites below, including resources suggested by Energise Me, our local Active Partnership and a partner of Hampshire School Games.

• NHS – Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Young People – practical guidance for parents about how much physical activity children should aim for and ideas for incorporating activity into everyday life.
• Energise Me – local resources, ideas and support to help children, young people and families become more active.
• Youth Sport Trust – resources and ideas to help children enjoy physical activity, develop confidence and take part in sport.
• Sport England – Join the Movement – simple ideas and inspiration for getting active at home, outdoors and as a family.
• BBC Super Movers – fun, active videos that combine movement with learning and are particularly suitable for younger children.

We hope these resources will help families find fun, accessible and enjoyable ways to be active together. Our aim is for children to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to make physical activity a positive part of their lives, both now and in the future.