Physical Education
“Our vision is for all children to leave TAB with a love for Physical Activity and the ability to confidently apply the fundamental movement skills to participate in Physical Education successfully”
Intent
At Thomas A’ Becket Infant School, we believe that Physical Education should be enjoyable, inclusive and inspiring for every child. We aim to develop a lifelong love of sport, physical activity and healthy lifestyles by providing engaging opportunities for children to move, learn and succeed.
Through a rich, broad and balanced PE curriculum, all children develop the fundamental movement skills of agility, balance and coordination. Our curriculum is underpinned by the three pillars of PE: motor competence, rules, strategies and tactics, and healthy participation. Children learn a wide range of physical skills and are given opportunities to practise, refine and apply these skills in different games, activities and sporting contexts.
We want all children to feel confident, motivated and successful in PE. Our lessons encourage children to challenge themselves, work collaboratively, solve problems and develop resilience, while also fostering positive attitudes towards physical activity. We celebrate effort, progress and achievement, ensuring that every child can experience success regardless of their starting point.
Alongside developing physical competence, we help children understand the importance of leading healthy, active lifestyles and the benefits that physical activity can have on their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Through high-quality PE experiences, we aim to equip children with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to enjoy being active both now and in the future. We also recognise the important role families play in supporting active lifestyles and promote opportunities for children to be physically active beyond school through initiatives such as our Active Fun Bags, which encourage participation and help children stay active at home with their families.
Implementation
At Thomas A’ Becket Infant School, Physical Education is delivered through a progressive and engaging curriculum that enables all children to develop confidence, competence and enjoyment in physical activity.
All children receive a minimum of two hours of high-quality PE each week, taught by class teachers. Lessons take place both indoors and outdoors and provide opportunities for children to develop, practise and apply fundamental movement skills, including agility, balance and coordination, in a range of activities and sporting contexts. Through the three pillars of PE, children develop motor competence, learn and apply rules, strategies and tactics, and gain an understanding of healthy participation, helping them to become physically literate and confident movers. Teachers use clear progression and appropriate challenge to ensure that all children can achieve success and make progress from their individual starting points.
Physical activity extends beyond PE lessons. Our playground is organised into active zones, providing children with a variety of opportunities to be physically active during playtimes. Trained Play Leaders support and encourage participation, helping children to develop confidence, teamwork and positive attitudes towards being active.
Children regularly take part in Intra-School Festivals and competitions, allowing them to apply the skills they have learned in lessons whilst developing resilience, sportsmanship and teamwork. We also participate in a range of Inter-School Competitions and Festivals throughout the year, providing opportunities for children to represent the school and experience competitive sport in a positive and inclusive environment.
A broad range of extra-curricular clubs further enriches our PE offer. These clubs provide opportunities for children to experience different sports and activities, develop new skills and discover activities they enjoy beyond the curriculum.
To further promote participation and physical activity beyond the school day, children have access to our Active Fun Bags, which are sent home regularly. These bags provide simple, engaging activities and equipment that encourage children to stay active at home with their families, increasing participation in physical activity and strengthening the link between school and home.
To promote healthy and active lifestyles, we hold our annual Alive and Kicking fortnight. During this two-week event, children participate in a wide range of activities linked to physical activity, healthy eating and wellbeing. Learning focuses on understanding how the body works, the importance of exercise, nutrition and healthy food choices. Children also take part in sports taster sessions and benefit from visits and workshops delivered by external sports coaches and health professionals, broadening their experiences and inspiring lifelong participation in physical activity.
Through these varied opportunities, we ensure that every child develops the skills, knowledge and confidence to enjoy physical activity and sport both within school and beyond.
Impact
By the time children leave Thomas A’ Becket Infant School, they will have developed a positive attitude towards physical activity and a love of being active. They will have acquired the fundamental movement skills of agility, balance and coordination and will be able to apply these confidently in a range of games, activities and sporting contexts.
Children will demonstrate increasing confidence, resilience and independence in PE lessons and physical activities, showing a willingness to challenge themselves, work collaboratively and persevere when learning new skills. They will understand the importance of teamwork, fair play and good sportsmanship and will celebrate both their own achievements and the success of others.
Through the three pillars of PE, children will develop strong motor competence, demonstrate an understanding of rules, strategies and tactics across a range of activities, and value healthy participation, recognising the importance of regular physical activity for lifelong health and wellbeing.
Through participation in high-quality PE lessons, active playtimes, clubs, festivals and competitions, children will experience success and enjoyment in physical activity, helping them to develop healthy habits that support their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. They will have a greater understanding of how exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices contribute to a healthy body and mind.
The impact of initiatives such as our Active Fun Bags will be seen in increased participation in physical activity beyond the school day, encouraging children to remain active at home with their families and helping to foster positive, lifelong attitudes towards movement and healthy living.
As a result, our children leave TAB Infant with the skills, knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm needed to continue participating in and enjoying sport and physical activity as they move through their education and beyond.
Quality Start Award
The Quality Start Award is an accreditation scheme that recognizes and rewards Infant schools for their commitment to physical education (PE), school sport, and healthy, active lifestyles, specifically focusing on Key Stage 1 (KS1). In June 2025, we were assessed and received Platinum Plus which is the highest award you can achieve.
Feedback from the assessor-
“Just wanted to congratulate TAB Infant for achieving Platinum Plus in the Quality Start Award – Mrs Daniels and Miss Burling have worked so hard at developing PE it's really impressive”
“TAB Infants have implemented a number of excellent initiatives to boost pupil participation in physical activity. The level of engagement is particularly impressive and serves as a strong model for others”
“In response to pupil voice feedback, TAB has significantly expanded its intra-school sports offer-a fantastic development that ensures more pupils are actively involved and represented”
“Staff benefit from regular PE training, which is then reinforced and built upon in follow-up sessions led by PE Coordinators. This ensures a consistent and evolving approach to high-quality PE delivery across the school”
Children’s Quotes-
“In our PE lessons, we learn lots of different skills and it is always really fun”
“I went to the Cross-Country competition at the Junior School, we ran a really long way and we won! It was really good going against other schools”
“We love our Playtime Zones, there is lots of different equipment and we love the games that the Play Leaders do with us on the bottom playground”