P.E, School Sport and Physical Activity

We value the contribution of physical activity in leading a healthy lifestyle and endeavour to promote active living throughout school. 

Each week, children in Reception enjoy an hour's PE lesson, delivered jointly between the class teacher and a specialist sports provider from Wigan Athletic.  During these sessions, opportunities are provided for play both indoors and outdoors which enable children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility

From Year 1 to Year 6, all children have two hours dedicated PESSPA time per week.  This is in the form of a daily 15 minute session, where children improve their stamina and fitness through high intensity activities and work towards improving their Personal Bests by revisiting fundamental key skills such as running, jumping, throwing and catching.  A weekly 45 minute PESSPA session is also provided by the class teacher.  On this day, children arrive ready in their PE kits so the whole lesson is spent being physically active.  Our Spirit of the Games values are central to our PESPPA sessions and children will be acknowledged for showing these values by being awarded the class trophy.  The values we promote are Determination, Honesty, Respect, Self-Belief, Passion and Teamwork.  Through these values, every child can be successful in PESSPA. 

In Year 3, children attend weekly swimming lessons from September - February.  Through these lessons, children learn to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres; they learn to use a range of strokes effectively; and they learn to perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.   Children are reassessed in these three elements when they reach Year 6 and additional sessions are provided to those that need them.

Throughout the year, children are given opportunities to participate in competitive school sport.  This includes tournaments and games within class, School Games Day, local tournaments through the LLG (Leigh, Lowton and Golborne) consortium and competitions organised through Wigan School Games.  These competitions are split into three categories: elite (for children who attend clubs outside of school) ; beginner (for B and C teams to compete) and inclusive (for children with SEND / SMSC needs to compete).  We are proud to enter competitions at all levels.  In addition, we play in the KS2 Leigh Rugby League, where fixtures are played weekly.  

Daily physical activity is important for healthy lifestyles and mental wellbeing.  For this reason, our School Sports Crew and our Mental Health Ambassadors work together to ensure children have opportunities to be physically active at break and lunchtimes.  These include a large number of Play Leaders who have been trained to deliver games with KS1 children, a rota to ensure daily use of the outdoor gym equipment for each child in KS2, active games and equipment such as hockey, football and basketball out every lunchtime, and a personal best station ensuring children can practise skills daily and try to improve.  

It is important to us that children understand why being healthy is important.  Our PSHE curriculum includes units where children learn the importance of diet, exercise, sleep, sun care, vaccinations, hygiene and the impact of these on our bodies.  All children will have acquired basic first aid and CPR skills by the time they leave in Year 6.