Our aim at Holland Junior School is that all pupils leave physically literate and with the knowledge, skills and motivation necessary to equip them for a healthy, active lifestyle and life- long participation in physical activity and sports.

The National curriculum for Physical Education states:

A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

Our essential learning objectives for Physical Education at Holland Junior School are to enable children:

• To experience and enjoy a wide range of experiences within physical education and sport.
• To develop enthusiasm, positive attitudes and practical skills in order to participate, compete and lead a healthy, active lifestyle.

During our physical education lessons children will follow personal learning journeys based on a ‘FUNdamental’ skills, and multi-ability approach to teaching and learning. This curriculum equips children with the essential abilities to maximize potential, and enjoy long-term participation in physical activity and sport. Teaching and learning focuses on three main building blocks for every sporting action, these are known as ‘FUNdamental’ skills: Agility, Balance and Coordination.

The curriculum encourages creativity, collaboration and self-challenge, through six themed units per year, known as ‘multi-abilities’ which include: personal skills, social skills, cognitive skills, creative skills, physical skills and health related fitness.

Swimming and the national curriculum

Since 1994, swimming and water safety has been a statutory element of the national curriculum for physical education in England.

This means that every 11-year old child should leave primary school with the skills to keep themselves safe while enjoying swimming with friends and family. Swimming is a compulsory subject and we expect all pupils to take part in these valuable lessons.

The three national curriculum outcomes

Swimming is the only sport to be included within the national curriculum physical education programme of study. All primary schools must provide swimming and water safety lessons in either Key Stage 1 or 2.

Each pupil is required to be able to do the following:

• Perform safe self-rescue in different water based situations
• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively, for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.

We take our pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 to Moorhouse School where we enjoy the use of their swimming pool. The Moorhouse School pool is a ten minute walk from our school.

Children attend swimming lessons during their time in KS2. In our Year 6 cohort (leavers of Summer 2022) their swimming skills as are follows;

• 49% of Year 6 pupils can swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25m.
• 49% of Year 6 pupils can use a range of strokes effectively.
• 41% of Year 6 pupils can perform safe self-rescue in different water-based activities.