PE in Primary (reception)

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My DD started school this last year, we were told that PE would be on Mondays but it seems that it is SO rarely actually done. She has certainly not had a structured PE class in the last 5 weeks, for 2 weeks they were practising for a print play but not sure why they haven't done it any other time.

They play outside in their garden area, but this is 'playing' not structured as they play in their sand pit, play house etc.

I come from a sporty background and I think it is really important, I have spoken with DD and she tells me they do climbing, balancing etc when they do PE, so I know that she has done it (!) but that they don't go onto the sports field other than at lunch time or into the hall at any time other than lunch and assemblies (the hall is where they do their PE usually) - just wanting to check that they hadn't been doing things but she hadn't seen it as 'PE' but this doesn't seem to be the case.

Have spoken with other parents and they are being told same thing by their children.

How much PE should they be doing? What would you do about broaching the school/teacher about it?

it might be different in scotland but my 2 have 2 designated PE days (dd - tues and thurs and ds mon and fri). If they are rehearsing for a show/assembly, etc then it does get missed but for the most part they do get their PE time. It normally takes place in the gym hall but may also be on the astroturf pitch if the weather is nice.

My DD has PE 3 times per week. Not in UK, but it is a British School with British curriculum.
DD did the following last year in reception: ( I volunteer in the library and can see the PE lesson if outside)
stuck in the mud game
throwing and catching rugby balls
obstacle course
balancing and gymnastics
one term of swimming lessons (one lesson per week)
Now she is in year one and they have started basic skills with a tennis racket and ball.
I would ask the teacher at parents' evening - just mention casually that your dd really enjoys PE and ask what the programme is and what they will be doing in the summer term.

Are you sure they haven't been out in the playground with skipping ropes and balls etc? They may not have got changed, only put plimsolls on. Often the hall is being used for other things. Our infants do 2 lessons a week.

at my boys primary school they have to have their pe kit at school all week as tho there are set days fo PE they often do extra PE if the weather is nice, or as the school has its own PE teacher if she has spare time, they also have strong links to the local university and sometime students come and take them out for extra PE.

they also have 2 outdoor areas that are 'outdoor classrooms' so they do a look of work outside actually. i am not sure that this is the norm but i think its really good :)

oh and the school has a pool and they all swim once a week on top of regular PE lessons :)

No PE whatsoever in Reception despite being asked to supply kit

When asked they make vague noises about starting next term, and that they use the outside a lot for lessons etc. I'm not particularly pleased about it because I think having a structured P.E. lesson is a good idea where they can pick up those coordination skills that might otherwise be missed. Plus they can practice getting changed. I've signed DD up for after school football club one day a week, so at least she has some compensation.

I'm displeased about the wasted kit hanging on all the Reception pegs apart from anything else - as I have posted about on here before!

Is a requirement for them to have PE in reception? Ofsted wise?

And they don't go into the playground to do anything. The school say they are meant to have one PE lesson on a Monday, plimsolls are still at bottom of bag with folded PE kit on top - I know the bag wouldn't be like this if even is she'd just had her plimsolls out!!

Good idea about mentioning how much DD likes PE

When mine were in Reception, PE was often done in uniform as many children had trouble getting changed. PE was pretty much practice in getting changed more than actual physical exercise.

I have been told by a primary teacher that it is a requirement to have it twice a week (once weekly for DD's class).

When DD was in reception she did PE but never got changed. When I queried this I was told its because of getting almost 30 children changed with just a teacher or a teacher and TA when the children weren't independent enough to undo buttons etc.

No it is not a requirement to have "formal" PE lessons beepbeep

From the FAQ section of EYFS
Q: Are reception aged children entitled to a formal physical education lesson?

A: It is not necessary to have a formal type physical education lesson in a school hall. The Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage states that the children's physical needs should be met through challenging physical activities both indoors and outdoors. There should be on-going opportunities provided for physical education both indoors and outdoors. Some of these opportunities would be adult initiated at some points during the day/week.
Opportunities to use the school hall as an additional resource for physical activities should not be missed, but health and safety issues should be addressed with equipment that may not be designed or appropriate for the age group. Many practitioners utilise hall times for larger group type activities.

Ds1 has PE twice a week and has to have both indoor and outdoor kit but it seems to be a "moveable feast" i.e. if there is something else going on that day (like a play etc) PE doesnt happen.

Not sure how I feel about it, really. They run around a lot at breaktime and lunchtime. They also do sponsored physical stuff and sports days.

I was told by HT that swimming was "compulsory and part of the NC" mrz Is that not right? (after having to pay £50 when ds1 has private lessons every week anyway!!)

DD's reception class do PE twice a week (and go to school in tracksuits and trainers on those days to avoid the time wasting of getting changed) and she loves it. In winter they do stuff in the sports hall - throwing and catching, skipping, running, basic gymnastics etc - and now they are starting with hockey and basic tennis skills.

Next term they are all looking forward to working toward sports day, and the class will also swim once a week for an hour.

The whole school, including all teaching staff, did the sports relief mile last week, running as far as they could and walking the rest.

DS2, Reception, does PE twice a week, once indoors (dance based) and once outside.

Mind you, they spend a huge amount of time running around outside, making obstacle courses, playing tag with the teacher. (I help at school sometimes and they are always running around).

Don't worry too much anyway - my eldest is in year 3. He worked out that, including school PE lessons, clubs, and outside school clubs, he does on average 10 hours a week sport!

In my dds primary school PE for reception is once a week, it an immovable part of the week For reception they did "terms" of different activities, ie football, netball, a lot of ball related skills. In fact dd1 also got PE homework in Reception (P1 here), ie practise dribbling with the inside of your foot and the like. The PTA also used some of its fundraising to buy in time from different coaches for different sports.

In P1 they went in wearing track bottoms and a t-shirt and stayed in them all day, easier than getting 20+ 4-5 years olds changed , but now she's in P3 they change.

I had this for DD in Reception - left it as could never quite work out how much PE she was doing. About half way through the first term of Y1 I addressed the issue with the teacher (It is an Ofsted req for KS1 - twice a week). I was given faff about "doing ball skills and speed stacks" and I stated my understanding that PE should involved the discipline of getting changed into PE kit and learning something physical. Another mother happened to have exactly the same conversation the same morning. Since then we have had PE, in kit twice a week.

I can sympathise with it being tough to get 30 children changed but heck - how will they learn if they don't do it!

PE twice a week. They come dressed with t-shirt and shorts under fleecy top and track suit bottoms and trainers to avoid lengthy changing. One outdoor session such as football or playball and one indoor gym - working with equipment; different types of movement and jumping ; balancing skills working on coordiantion. Always happend wihtout fail.
Also have varioud equipment like scooters etc for playtime so lot sof activity.

Wish my yr6 son did less PE. Very small school (very pleased generally) but HT and CT obsessed with sport. They do one full afternoon and one half afternoon per week. No drama, very little art and almost no music:-( Ds hates PE (except gym/dance). The only festivals/competitions/events are all sport. :-(

Sorry, meant to actually answer your question with(!): reception do two hours of PE, fully changed and outside where possible. But only 24 children to 2 adults.

DS does it twice a week, in the hall. For one- "the high apparatus" they get changed, the other they just take jumpers and shoes and socks off I think.

Do they do a daily "exercise sessions" some school call it "wake up shake up" some use other names.

DS in Year R very rarely did " team sport" style PE , more about individual physical skills, even now in Year 1 PE seems all about throwing and catching, intercepting a rolling ball, using the school "trim trail" or playing school yard games like stuck in the mud & follow the leader. PLUS wake up shake up every day.

DS did virtually none in reception. Despite many, many parental complaints it has taken a change of head to get PE onto the timetable.

"I can sympathise with it being tough to get 30 children changed but heck - how will they learn if they don't do it!"

As a reception teacher (who does formal PE once a week) it would be ever so helpful if the parents could teach their children to get dressed.

Riverside - my ds1 is year 3. I have been teaching him to get dressed since he was 2 years old, and he still puts everything on back to front! Sorry.:)