At Strathmore we are dedicated to preparing and challenging every learner to become an active contributor to their community by championing independence and communication in a learning environment that is accessible to all.  

The PE curriculum is personalised to meet the student’s Education, Health and Care Plan outcomes as well as to provide positive physical experiences to enhance the learners’ overall wellbeing.   

Skills, Knowledge and Concepts 

At Strathmore School we believe that all learners should be exposed to aspects of PE during lesson time, play time and a range of extracurricular clubs. Many of our learners struggle with sensory integration and regulation; focused physical activity can be used as a calming method to self-regulate. It is important that learners get the opportunity to be active throughout their school day, in order to regulate their sensory needs and enable them to concentrate and learn new things. In line with government guidelines for physical education, all pupils experience at least 2hrs of physical activity every week.  

All learners, regardless of Key Stage, will experience a range of outdoor, adventurous activities throughout their time at school and these will be selected based on the learners’ individual needs. 

All learners, regardless of Key Stage, will attend swimming sessions and cycling lessons throughout the year, where they will work through the Strathmore Development Framework of skills needed to complete these activities as independently as possible.  

When learners have reached band 6 in the motor skills areas, they will experience weekly, focused PE lessons based on body awareness, gross motor skills and games. They will develop an understanding of how to play structured games; how to interact with others in a team; be able to follow instructions and maintain a level of safety in the community. These learners will have the opportunity to attend competitive sporting events. 

The physical development curriculum covers both Motor Skills and Physical Education (PE). 

Motor Skills covers: Fine and Gross Motor Skills such as mobility, upper limb function, using our hands and hand and eye coordination.  

PE covers: learning to swim, cycle and applying skills such as running, jumping and catching within a context of a game and/or sporting environment.  

As learners move from the primary to the secondary phases, the range of activities offered to each Key Stage will vary. For example, children in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 will participate in school activities delivered by specialised coaches and possibly be integrated into mainstream PE lessons, whilst learners in the 14-19 classes will participate in activities that they can eventually access without the support of school e.g. timetabled sessions with borough gyms. They will be prioritised for community linked physical activities, due to their impending transition from school.   

The school’s termly themes provide a broad and flexible vehicle for learning that allows teachers to plan engaging and practical activities, whilst assessing students’ progress effectively by using the Strathmore Physical Education Framework. 

We believe that learning to swim or being confident in the water; learning to balance on a bike or propel a vehicle are key skills which will create positive experiences, that will enable learners to continue to be active when they leave school. Our aim for all learners is that during, and after they finish, their time at Strathmore School they will be able to access physical activities in the community and, where possible, do so independently.  

At Strathmore we are dedicated to preparing and challenging every learner to become an active contributor to their community by championing independence and communication in a learning environment that is accessible to all. Please click on the drop-down menu to see the ways in which we promote physical development at school and home.