PE & Sports Premium
At St James, we recognise the contribution of PE to the health and well-being of children. We believe that an innovative, varied PE curriculum and extra-curriculum opportunities have a positive influence on the concentration, attitude and academic achievement of all our children.
All children at St James are involved in an enriched physical exercise program during curriculum time, which includes a variety of activities designed to challenge and inspire our children. Research has shown that participation in extra-curricular activities also has a positive effect on attainment and we are currently developing the opportunities for a variety of sports related after-school clubs for all children across school.
To help achieve this aim, we have used P.E funding to buy in support and teaching from Key PE coaching, RISE dance and Teddy Tennis. The staff from these companies work with all teachers and children to develop and strengthen the P.E curriculum across the school. It is a vital part of their role to provide sustainable support and training to ensure all our teachers can deliver high quality PE lessons. Elite coaching will be delivering PE for 2 afternoons per week from reception to year 6. They will also be delivering coaching sessions during 2 lunchtimes a week, including training for lunchtime supervisors, and 2 after school clubs per week throughout school.
We also use our PE Funding to:
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Fund inter-school competition with the cluster of Farnworth schools, ensuring all year groups across KS1 and 2 get the opportuntiy to take part in competitive sports.
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Resource high-quality sporting opportunities for all pupils.
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Resource playground equipment to promote and sustain physical activity outside of curriculum time (e.g. playground markings).
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Resource our curriculum intent to ensure that the curriculum is sustainable, well planned and staff have the confidence to use a range of teaching and learning styles in PE (e.g. purchase of Rising Stars scheme).
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Develop staff skills and confidence with CPD within PE lessons delivered by external agencies to ensure the PE funding offers sustainability.
Swimming
Children in Year 4 will attend swimming lessons as part of their curriculum. We currently use PE Premium to take children swimming again at the end of Year 6 to ensure as many children as possible leave us as competent swimmers. The data below outlines the number of children, at the end of Year 6, who are competent swimmers (using 2019 data out of 38 pupils - 2020 Year 6 children did not attend swimming due to lockdown):
How many Year 6 pupils can swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres? 71%
How many Year 6 pupils can use a range of strokes effectively? 34%
How many Year 6 pupils can perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations? 13%