Guide us O God to be the best we can be; in every thought, in every word and every deed
At St Mary and St Andrew’s we believe that all children are entitled to high quality sports teaching.
We have always made a strong commitment to developing children’s sporting abilities and believe that engagement and success in such activities directly benefits not only the health of our children, but also their self-esteem which in turn boosts academic achievement.
We believe that all children can achieve success in sport and so offer a range of opportunities which include social sports clubs and opportunities for the more able to represent school in team events.
As part of our commitment to healthy lifestyles and improving children’s sporting opportunities and ability we have recruited a full time Sports Apprentice (as of December 2019). This role supports pupil’s access to sport throughout each day, bolsters PE lessons and provides active playtimes five days a week.
Our Sports Apprentice successfully completed his L2 and L3 qualifications in Spring 2022. Since the release of new DfE PE funding in July 2022, we have been able to recruit the now qualified apprentice as a part time Sports Coach to support curriculum PE across all 7 year groups as well as host wider sports clubs and facilitate active playtimes, whilst helping to mentor young play leaders and upskill teaching staff.
As well as sports clubs offered by staff, we use the expertise of providers who offer specialist teaching in drama/dance, yoga, football, athletics and multi-sports. These are offered as after school clubs.
Click here for the Department of Education link to the Primary School’s Sports Funding page.
What is the Sports Premium?
The Government continues to provide funding of £150 million per annum since 2013/14 to provide new, substantial primary school sport funding. This funding was jointly provided by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport, and saw money going directly to primary school head teachers to spend on improving the quality of sport and PE for all their children.
The sport funding can only be spent on sport and PE provision in schools.
Purpose of funding
Schools have to spend the sport funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but have the freedom to choose how they do this.
Possible uses for the funding include:
♦ hiring specialist PE teachers or qualified sports coaches to work alongside primary teachers when teaching PE
♦ new or additional Change4Life sport clubs
♦ paying for professional development opportunities in PE/sport
♦ providing cover to release primary teachers for professional development in PE/sport
♦ running sport competitions, or increasing participation in the school games
♦ buying quality assured professional development modules or materials for PE/sport
♦ providing places for pupils on after school sport clubs and holiday clubs.
♦ Buying additional PE and sports resources
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How will St Mary and St Andrew’s be spending the Sports Funding and who will benefit?
Our Sports Premium funding for the Financial Year 2021-2022 was £17040.
Sport has continued to be prioritised both during and after the national lockdowns following the global pandemic. Sports funding during the school year has been spent on enhancing curriculum P.E. and resources. In addition, we have invested in developing a Sports Apprentice who has provided an invaluable role in supporting effective PE lessons and developing active playtimes. Team Theme have worked tirelessly with our children to develop PE skills but now, with the advent of new resources from the LCC PE team, additional staff training and support are allowing all staff to deliver high quality PE lessons from September 2021.
We hope that the impact of this will raise engagement and enjoyment in lessons; lead children to join in the wide variety of clubs delivered through after school provision; partake in the new summer clubs of music, dance, drama and football with multiskills; promote healthy lifestyles.
Mrs Jones will undertake the new role of PE subject leader.
She will train and liaise with other teachers to identify areas for further development, both in terms of children’s skills and future CPD for staff. To support the development of early career teachers and our new Sports Apprentice, CPD is also accessed through the PESSPA association and LPDS.