Please read the information below which gives details of our PE and Sport Premium Grant and how we allocate the funding.

WHAT IS ‘PE AND SPORT PREMIUM’ FUNDING?

Primary PE and Sport Premium is an initiative that aims to help increase and improve the PE and sporting opportunities for children. It was first provided in the 2013/14 academic year and the current government has pledged to continue this funding until 2023.

PE and Sport Premium funding is provided jointly by the Department for Education, the Department for Health and Culture and the Department for Media and Sport. It has been allocated to primary school head teachers and is ring-fenced, meaning that it can only be spent on the provision of PE and sport in schools.

The Government believes that head teachers and school leaders should decide how to use the funding for PE and Sports in school. They are held accountable for the decisions they make through:

• The performance outcomes of all pupils compared with their peers
• The Ofsted inspection framework, under which inspectors focus on the attainment of pupil groups, in particular in those areas where specific funding has been provided.
• The reports that schools are required to publish online for Parents.

All primary schools receive a lump sum of £16,000 plus £10 per pupil aged 5 or over on roll. Here at Holy Cross we aim is to use the funding effectively to ensure that standards of learning and achievement in PE and Sports are raised, with all children, regardless of their background, engaging in physical activity as part of the curriculum and extra-curricular provision.

Since the introduction of the PE and Sport Premium, Holy Cross has used the funding to employ specialist PE teachers to work alongside staff, using a coaching method. PE sessions have been modelled and taught alongside coaches and strategies for assessment have been shared. All teaching staff have also attended internal PE professional development sessions, along with some teaching staff attending external sessions. Sports clubs, tournaments and competitions have been subsidised allowing a wide range of sports activities to be offered to the children. PE and sporting equipment has continued to be replaced and enhanced.

How are we using the Sports Funding?

At Holy Cross Catholic Primary School we believe Physical Education (PE) and sport play an important role in school life for every pupil and through PE and sport our children learn to develop the important qualities of discipline, resilience, communication, team work and ambition, leading to improved concentration, attitude and academic achievement. We want children to develop a lifelong and positive attitude towards sport; we want them to understand that no ability level is fixed.  We encourage all children to take part in a wide variety of extra curricular sports clubs operated by Prosports. We survey children's interests and review the clubs on offer each term, depending on pupils interests and we track and target pupil participation in these clubs.

P.E Commitment

The Headteacher and PE co-ordinator are committed to ensuring that all children receive at least 2 hours of high quality well-planned PE per week delivered by confident and well trained teachers. The successful delivery of the curriculum supports all aspects of health education within the school. Monitoring of lessons ensures they are planned and delivered to a high quality, guaranteeing both pupil achievement and enjoyment. The school holds sports days, during which children take part in a variety of events they may not have tried before and this culminates in traditional competitive races.

Through the local School Sports Partnership (SSP), the school takes part in competitions as well as those organised by other agencies, such as the Catholic Deanery events. Other agencies are used to enhance the variety of extra-curricular activities available, for example Chelsea FC. run a football club. Talented children are signposted to local clubs and events to encourage them to develop their skills. They also take part in annual programmes organised by the SSP.

Primary school experiences are pivotal to the children’s future perception of physical activity and the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the children at Holy Cross is testament to the passion and dedication of all staff. Children leave the school equipped to enjoy sport for all its health and social benefits. For those who relish the competitive element, they gain the skills, confidence and relevant experience to succeed at their chosen level and discipline.