When our budding athletes begin at Ash Tree, they embark on their journey through physical education in the Foundation Stage where fundamental movement skills are developed through exploration of their environment. They have many opportunities to experience and develop a range of fundamental movement skills through play including co-ordination, locomotion, control and balance. Within our PE provision, they encounter a variety of sports and activities, allowing them to explore their physical environment and develop their motor skills. They'll have the opportunity to pick up familiar sports equipment, like footballs and tennis balls and discover for themselves how to engage in physical activities. The adults who guide them in these explorations will demonstrate proper techniques and introduce them to the names of different movements.
Early Years
Our young Ash Tree Athletes in Foundation Stage have daily access to their outdoor area which has physical equipment allowing children to develop a wealth of gross motor skills from balancing, jumping, climbing to developing upper body and core strength. The children also engage in a weekly more structured lesson including basic physical exercises and games, learning to coordinate their movements and build physical stamina. They'll have fun while developing their agility, balance, and coordination through activities like relay races and obstacle courses. working through a half termly focus in line with the rest of school.
Key Stage One
As our Athletes progress into Key Stage 1 (KS1), our physical education curriculum takes a more structured approach, with regular PE lessons scheduled throughout the week. In these lessons, they build on the foundation laid in their early years. They develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent. During their P.E lessons they are given opportunities to master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination. They start to learn terminology to describe different sports and activities, compare various physical exercises, and practice active listening and responding to instructions from their teachers. They learn new games and begin to developing simple tactics for attacking and defending. Our KS1 athletes have opportunities to showcase their physical abilities by taking part in after school competitions facilitated the Brigshaw Trust partnership. Here they complete against 7 primary schools in the trust in sporting activities such as: skipping, sports hall athletics and multi-skills events. Here they are able to engage in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities.
Key Stage Two
As our Ash Tree Athletes advance into Key Stage 2 (KS2), they explore a wider range of sports and physical activities, including: netball, tennis, gymnastics, hockey, football, tag rugby, dodgeball, cross country, athletics, rounders, handball, swimming and dance. They continue to expand their physical vocabulary as they discuss and evaluate their own performance and that of their peers. Our children will continue to apply and develop a broader range of sporting skills, learning how to use them in different ways and linking them to make actions and sequences of movement. Our Ash Tree athletes will begin to master previously learnt skills of running, jumping, throwing and catching both in isolation and in combination in the many sporting activities our curriculum provides.
Competition remains a key element in KS2, with continued attendance to a wide range of competitions. Both after school - as facilitated by the Brigshaw Trust and within school such as our lunchtime netball league. This allows our Ash Tree athletes to develop essential teamwork skills, such as effective communication, cooperation, and following instructions from coaches or team captains. Our Ash Tree Athletes in Key Stage 1 and 2 are assessed through a school wide tracking system where children are assessed against the key skills taught within a half-term.
An Ash Tree Athlete will progress through our carefully planned physical education curriculum, building on their physical skills and knowledge each year. By the time they graduate from our school, they will have had the opportunity to excel in various sports, participate in athletic competitions and had opportunities to develop and display respect and sportsmanship towards their opponents. At Kippax Ash Tree Primary School, we foster an environment where the joy of sports and physical activities inspires a lifelong love for staying active. Here, children not only experience the benefits of physical activity but also gain the knowledge to make informed choices that promote a healthy and active lifestyle, enhancing both their physical and mental wellbeing.
