Physical activity within a primary school is defined by the Association for Physical Education (AFPE) as 'a broad term that describes bodily movement, posture and balance. All require energy. It includes all forms of physical education, sports and dance activities. However, it is wider than this, as it also includes indoor and outdoor play, work-related activity, outdoor and adventurous activities, active travel (e.g walking, cycling, rollerblading, scooting) and routine, habitual activities such as using the stairs, doing housework and gardening'.

Physical Activity at St Joseph's

We take our responsibility to help children to meet the Chief Medical Officer guidelines that all children and young people aged 5 to 18 engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day (of which 30 minutes should be in school) very seriously. Therefore, at St Joseph's, Children take part in physical activity in a plethora of ways. Be it at break time, as part of continuous provision (Reception and Year One) or during lesson time. Every opportunity to be active is taken. We use some of the sports funding allocated to us to help with this. Please see the list below to see some of the ways that we help to keep children moving:

• Movement breaks throughout the day (sometimes using 5-a-day fitness to help).
• Access to a wide variety of equipment at break times and lunchtimes.
• A wide range of after school clubs offered.
• Providing training and resources for mid-day supervisors to oversee games and activities at break and lunchtime. 
• Physical activity interventions.
• Annual Bikeability courses offered to our Year 6 children. 
• On-site bike/scooter storage to encourage being physically active on the way to and from school. 

Parent Support 

We encourage parents to support their children in engaging in an active healthy lifestyle. All parents have been given a 5-a-day login to structure physical activity at home when it is needed and physical activity homework is set once a term.