Early Years 

In the Early Years curriculum, physical activity is vital for the child's all-round development. Exploring through play will enhance their curiosity and enable them to make decisions about the world around them. By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, we can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies, social and emotional well-being. 

Throughout the early years, children will have time to explore a variety of equipment, be introduced to simple gymnastics movements, develop their aiming through our target games unit, practise their sports day ball games, respond to our dance stimuli and develop their coordination.

By the end of the Early Years children will:  

• Negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and displaying compassion for others; 

• Demonstrate strength, balance and coordination when playing; 

• Move energetically, such as running, jumping, dancing, hopping, skipping and climbing. 

Key Stage 1 

In Key Stage 1, children develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities. They will be encouraged to be physically active for sustained periods of time, supporting them in leading a healthy, active life. They will learn about their body and what happens during exercise. Children will engage in competitive sports and activities. They will think about tactics and strategies, share and develop their own ideas, and suggest ways of improving their understanding of the principles of play.

Throughout Key Stage 1, children will develop and enhance their gymnastics skills, creating movement sequences with increasing control and fluency. They will explore and refine their ball skills using a range of equipment and practise our sports day games demonstrating correct technique and form. Children will respond to a range of dance stimuli and create their own routines displaying coordination and confidence.  

By the end of Key Stage 1 children will:  

• Master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and coordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities.

• Participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending.

• Perform creative dances using simple movement patterns.