Physical Education at St Nicholas Primary School aims to ensure that all pupils develop physical literacy and the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to enjoy and succeed in a wide range of physical activities.

We want every child’s experience of PE to be positive, inclusive and motivating, helping them to build healthy habits and a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity. Our curriculum embeds attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle, teamwork and resilience.

Children develop skills across:

• Gymnastics

• Dance

• Games

• Outdoor and Adventurous Activities (OAA)

• Athletics (KS2)

• Swimming (KS2)

All pupils are given opportunities to take part in competition, helping to build character and embed values such as fairness, respect and resilience.

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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In EYFS, children develop physical skills through active play both indoors and outdoors.

Children are supported to build:

• core strength and stability

• balance and coordination

• spatial awareness and agility

Free-flow play allows sustained physical activity using our outdoor environment, including:

• mud kitchen

• play equipment

• large sandpit

During PE sessions, children explore basic movements through games, dance and gymnastics, and begin to understand why exercise is important for health.

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Key Stage 1

In Years 1 and 2, children develop fundamental movement skills.

They learn to:

• travel with, send and receive a ball

• use equipment in different ways

• apply skills in simple target, net, striking/fielding and invasion games

• begin to understand attacking and defending

Gymnastics focuses on balance, control and coordination, linking movements into simple sequences.

Dance develops rhythm, speed and movement through copying shapes and travelling creatively.

Throughout all units, children reflect on their performances and discuss sporting values.

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Key Stage 2

In Years 3–6, children build on KS1 skills through specific sports and activities.

They:

• apply skills in team games

• develop tactics for attacking and defending

• select and use skills appropriately

• evaluate and improve performance

Gymnastics and Dance
Movements become more complex, with children linking sequences, working in unison and canon, and collaborating in small groups.

Athletics
Children learn and refine running, jumping and throwing techniques, developing accuracy, control and stamina.

Swimming (Years 3 & 4)
Children develop swimming and water safety skills through a block of lessons taught by qualified instructors, with targets set for each ability group.

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Sport, Activity & Enrichment

St Nicholas is a proud member of Hull Active Schools.

Hull Active Schools supports high-quality PE, physical activity and school sport to improve the health and wellbeing of children across Hull.

We are committed to helping all children achieve the Active 60 daily recommendation and take part in:

• at least two School Games events every half term

• a range of competitive and inclusive sporting opportunities

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Useful Links

All links below are suitable for UK primary school children and families.

Hull Active Schools
Find out more about school sport and activity opportunities in Hull.
https://www.hullactiveschools.org/

BBC Bitesize – PE
Videos and activities to support physical education and healthy living.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

NHS Change4Life
Ideas for staying active, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle as a family.
https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

Youth Sport Trust
Resources promoting positive PE, wellbeing and inclusive sport.
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/

Swim England
Advice on swimming skills, water safety and confidence in the water.
https://www.swimming.org/