PE and Sport Premium

Physical Activity

Physical activity is essential for children’s overall development, supporting them to lead happy, healthy, and active lives. From an early age, gross and fine motor skills develop gradually through sensory exploration and movement experiences. Activities such as tummy time, crawling, and interactive play with adults and objects help build strength, coordination, and body awareness.

We encourage physical development through engaging games and a wide range of indoor and outdoor play opportunities. These experiences help children build core strength, balance, spatial awareness, coordination, and agility. All children take part in two weekly PE (Physical Education) sessions and enjoy twice-daily access to our field and playground, where they can socialise and stay active.

Coordination and muscle development

Our curriculum supports both gross and fine motor development, helping children grow strong, coordinated, and confident in their movements. Gross motor skills involve large physical actions such as climbing, running, and dancing, which build strength, stamina, and coordination.

Alongside this, we nurture fine motor development - smaller, more precise movements that involve coordination between the brain, nervous system, and muscles. These include control of the hands, fingers, lips, tongue, and eyes. Fine motor skills are crucial for tasks such as writing, drawing, and self-care, and they are closely linked to early literacy through the development of hand-eye coordination.

Children are given repeated and varied opportunities to build these skills through small world play, puzzles, arts and crafts, and the use of small tools. With adult guidance and feedback, they gain control, precision, and confidence.

Fine motor skills, combined with strong hand-eye coordination, also lay the foundation for success in many sports and physical activities.

Range of opportunities

As children progress through school, they are introduced to a wide variety of sports, including hockey, football, basketball, netball, tennis, cricket, and rounders. In addition, they enjoy lessons in swimming, gymnastics, dance, and athletics, and take part in a range of competitive games and events.

We also provide opportunities for outdoor adventure. All children visit outdoor centres where they can take part in exciting and challenging activities such as high ropes, low ropes, climbing, team challenges, and pedal karts. These experiences help to build resilience, teamwork, and confidence, while encouraging children to step outside their comfort zones in a safe and supportive environment.

Forest School

We are proud to offer Forest School as part of our physical education programme. This long-term approach supports children through play, exploration, and supported risk-taking in a natural environment. Forest School helps develop confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and independence through learner-led, hands-on experiences outdoors.

Forest School is based on a well-established ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world. Originating from the open-air culture of Scandinavia, it was introduced to the UK in 1993 and has since flourished in schools and settings nationwide.

At St Michael's Primary Academy, we are fortunate to have our own dedicated woodland area, located just a short walk from the school. This wonderful outdoor space is a valuable addition to our core educational offer, providing rich learning experiences that foster a deep connection with nature.