PE
Physical Education Curriculum Intent
Physical Education
Sithney School delivers the Complete PE programme providing fun and simple to follow
progressive PE lessons which build the pupil’s physical literacy from EYFS to year 6. It is fully aligned to the new National Curriculum and focuses on the development of agility, balance and coordination, healthy competition and cooperative learning. As the children move through the programme they gain more experience of sport specific focuses. The result is the pupils are provided with a consistent approach to PE right through the school, they steadily build leadership skills and as they become independent take ownership of their learning by contributing towards setting personal targets and assessing progress. In addition to 2 hours of structured PE per week healthy and active lifestyles are promoted through active breaktimes, mile of the day and personal best challenges alongside a range of sports after school clubs offered to all year groups throughout the year.
Competitive Sport
At Sithney C.P School we believe in promoting fun and competitive sport and as such we are members of the Helston Sports Cluster which provide an excellent programme of sporting competitions. Competition helps to build the pupil’s resilience, determination and teamwork skills which transfer into every aspect of their learning.
Sithney School pupils complete a range of level 1, 2 and 3 sporting challenges throughout the year organised via the Helston Sports Cluster partnership and Cornwall School Games qualifier events.
Swimming and water sports
Water confidence is a life skill and with Cornwall being a coastal county, Sithney is committed to building every child’s development in this crucial area.
All pupils will be supported in the pool with a qualified swim coach at Helston Leisure Centre and will have opportunity to progress through the STA School Swimming Programme to gain water confidence and the ability to swim at least 25m in a range of strokes.
Once pupils have mastered the skills needed in a closed water environment they then move to open water environments. Pupils ready for this stage will be offered surf lifesaving skills, typically a day or half a day each year until they leave. This will involve shore-based risk management and theory followed by open water-based skill application.
Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in sailing and alternative water sports activities which help to build water confidence at school camp and after school clubs.
Outdoor Learning Programme
Healthy and Active Lifestyles
Sithney School is fully committed to providing pupils with meaningful experiences of the outdoor environment. Developing a deep connection with nature, an understanding of the world around them and enhanced responsibility for the care of the environment is central to this extensive programme. The pupils are supported to develop skills, experiences and opportunities in a range of outdoor environments including woodland, moorland, coast, beach, rivers and historic sites.
Starting in Early Years the EYFS programme incorporates 18 sessions through the Reception Year. All sessions are designed to closely link to the Prime and Specific areas of learning and development of the EYFS curriculum. This forms the foundation element of our Outdoor Learning offer where pupils gain a clear understanding of the boundaries and behaviour expectations of the outdoor learning programme whilst developing their knowledge and use of a variety of tools and equipment. Pupils start this programme accessing half day sessions prior to building to full day long learning experiences.
In Years 1-6 pupils take part in a tailored series of Outdoor Learning which focus on the one of the following key areas: Traditional Forest School skills; Team Challenges; and National Curriculum Focus. Each year group will take part in three outdoor learning sessions per year. Each session will be a full day with one taking place in the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms. This ensures that pupils gain valuable experiences of the outdoors through the changing seasons. By the end of Year 6 each child would have received a further 18 days of Outdoor Learning experiences which culminate in a final challenge ‘The Final Frontier’ at Year 6 which enable the pupils to showcase all that they have learnt. This comprehensive programme teaches the pupils about utilising outdoor spaces to build structures, make tools and create products, in addition to developing navigation and leadership skills.
Through this holistic Outdoor Learning programme we aim for all pupils to leave school as responsible, resilient custodians of themselves and the environment with the skills to be able to thrive in the outdoors and the confidence to apply this learning to all areas of their existing and future studies and lives. Pupils in all year groups have the opportunity to document their outdoor learning journey both at school and home through completion of the Wild Tribe Award.