PE: More than just games
High-quality PE is about more than just playing sports. It’s about providing a planned, progressive, and inclusive curriculum that builds fundamental movement skills, confidence, and a love for being active.
The DfE’s expectations for PE:
The Department for Education expects primary schools to:
- Provide at least two hours of timetabled PE per week
- Use PE and Sport Premium funding to enhance provision
- Offer opportunities for all pupils to be active, regardless of ability
What does great PE look like in practice?
A high-quality PE lesson is:
- Inclusive: Every child feels welcome, valued, and able to succeed.
- Adaptive: Teaching approaches respond dynamically to the varied needs, abilities, and interests of all pupils, ensuring full engagement and progress.
- Purposeful: There’s a clear learning focus, and every pupil knows what they’re working towards.
- Accessible: Activities are differentiated, with all pupils engaged and able to participate fully.
- Positive: Praise is centred on effort, progress, and positive behaviours, helping children build confidence and resilience.
- Confident: Teachers feel confident delivering lessons and assessments with the support and resources they need.
Example activities that bring this to life include:
- Gymnastics, dance, athletics and swimming
- Invasion games like football, netball, and tag rugby
- Outdoor education and team-building games
- Inclusive, non-competitive clubs
Aspire’s offer for primary PE:
We provide:
- Specialist PE educators who deliver curriculum-aligned lessons
- Support for teachers and support staff, including CPD and co-teaching
- Programmes that make the most of your PE and Sport Premium funding
- High-quality swimming provision on your school playground
Funding insights:
Your PE provision can be funded through the PE and Sport Premium, Pupil Premium, or curriculum budgets. We’re here to help you navigate your options.
Let’s talk PE—contact us today for a consultation to explore how we can help your school build a strong, confident PE curriculum.