Gymnastics at Wheatley

Gymnastics is taught to every year group at Wheatley, and in Key Stage 1 is taught twice a year, as the skills the children build are fundamental to many other areas of physical learning. Throughout our gymnastics units, the skills can be broken down into different specific areas: rolls, jumps, vault work, handstands, cartwheels and round-offs, travelling and shapes and balances.

As the children move through their time here we work carefully to ensure the progression of skills in each area. We do use this as a guide as we recognise that children have individual talents and abilities, and may find different skills tricky. All skills are taught depending on the gymnastic ability of the child. Many of the skills are repeated across year groups to allow for children to progress at their own pace. For example, if a child has notmastered a forward roll from standing in year 3, the skill can be revisited in year 4, 5 and 6 if necessary.

Early Years Outcomes

The main Early Years Outcomes covered in the Gymnastics units are:

• Initiates new combinations of movement and gesture in order to express and respond to feelings, ideas and experiences.
• Experiments with different ways of moving.
• Jumps off an object and lands appropriately.
• Travels with confidence and skill around, under, over and through balancing and climbing equipment.

KS1 National Curriculum Aims

The main KS1 national curriculum aims covered in the Gymnastics units are:

• Master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and coordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities.

KS2 National Curriculum Aims

The main KS2 national curriculum aims covered in the Gymnastics units are:

• Develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics].
• Compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.