PE and Sport
Physical activity has numerous benefits for children and young people’s physical health, as well as their mental well-being (increasing self-esteem and emotional wellbeing and lowering anxiety and depression), and children who are physically active are happier, more resilient and more trusting of their peers. Ensuring that pupils have access to sufficient daily activity can also have wider benefits for pupils and schools, improving behaviour as well as enhancing academic achievement.
The school sport and activity action plan sets out the government’s commitment to ensuring that children and young people have access to at least 60 minutes of sport and physical activity per day. It recommends 30 minutes of this is delivered during the school day (in line with the Chief Medical Officers guidelines which recommend an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week).
The PE and sport premium can help primary schools to achieve this commitment, providing primary schools with £320 million of government funding to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of the PE, physical activity and sport offered through their core budgets. It is allocated directly to schools, so they have the flexibility to use it in the way that works best for their pupils.
Our PE and Sport Provision
At Highfield Primary School we have always placed a high importance on our PE and Sport provision. We are lucky to have such an enthusiastic team of staff who not only deliver high-quality teaching of PE during curriculum time but also commit themselves to providing a wide range of opportunities for children to enjoy PE and Sport through after clubs. We continue to give our children opportunities to experience different sporting challenges as they move through the school and to develop their talents in competitive sports.
In 2023/24, we received £18202 in PE and Sports Premium Funding. This money has been used to employ a PE teaching assistant to work alongside class teachers to deliver high-quality curricular PE sessions and after-school clubs. She helps to organise level 1 competitions and supports with the arrangements for attendance at inter-school competitions and active lunchtimes.
We offer many different FREE sporting clubs to pupils. These include football, netball, dance, gymnastics, dodgeball, rounders, basketball, judo, fencing, cricket and athletics.
Due to our commitment to PE and Sport, we have received the following awards from the Chorley School Sports Partnership:
- 2017 Most Improved School
- 2019 Most Improved School
- 2023 Participation Award
We have also earned the School Games Gold Award in 2018, 2019 and 2023 and in 2024 received the Platinum Award.
Our Year 3 pupils swim weekly for 1 hour and this year we paid for a pool on site for 2 weeks to allow all our SEND classes and pupils in Y4, Y5 and Y6 who were unable to swim to have intensive lessons daily.
- Continue our commitment to school competition through entering more competitions organised by Chorley School Sports Partnership and Chorley Council. The funding will help in providing resources and training to help prepare for competitions and in providing transport for children to attend these events
- To purchase new materials to enhance our provision of PE throughout school, with money being spent on equipment for lunchtime activities as well as after-school clubs
- Maintain staff professional development through courses
- Promote a healthy and active lifestyle
- Continue our membership of Chorley School Sports Partnership (CSSP), in order to work alongside specialist PE teachers and receive support in the development of PE and Sport in our school
- Further develop our provision of extra-curricular Sports clubs and provide opportunities for children to experience a variety of sports
- Employ a PE apprentice to support PE and school sport
- We have already increased the number and participation of children in extra-curricular clubs with some clubs over-subscribed
- We have continued to work alongside CSSP, which has improved the amount and range of extra-curricular clubs we can provide
- Where specialist coaches have been used in curriculum time, our involvement with the CSSP has increased children’s attainment as well as helped to develop the skills of staff. It has also increased the number of intra- and inter-school competitions for children in all year groups
- We have participated in and signed up to participate in, an increasing number of competitions for a wide range of sports. This will impact the number of children participating in sporting competitions, across the school
- We are exploring further specialist coaching opportunities in preparation for the competition. This will increase pupil attainment
- The attitude and commitment to sport in the school has increased
- More provisions for SEN children such as inclusion festivals which are held every term
- Winner of the most improved Primary School in Chorley for PE and school Sport