At St Mary’s we aim to educate the children about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The children have a fruit snack everyday and have access to drinking water throughout the day. The option of milk is also available (cost applicable for some children). The school serves meals provided by Hertfordshire Catering Limited, who offer a well balanced and nutritious menu.

The class teachers often use ‘Brain Gym’ techniques to keep children’s brains and bodies alert and active and children participate in the ‘Daily Mile’ .

Through the curriculum, children are taught the importance of eating healthily and getting exercise.

The children have 15 minutes morning play and 1 hour at lunchtime. At lunchtime a variety of sport/ play equipment is available for the children to use.

PE Provision

Reception children enjoy at least one 60-minute PE lesson each week. In addition, during continuous provision, they have access to a spacious outdoor area equipped with a variety of games and resources that support the development of gross motor skills and engage the seven areas of learning.
Key Stage 1 children participate in three PE sessions each week. Whenever possible, PE lessons take place outdoors, weather permitting and depending on the type of activity.
A sports coach provides valuable support to teachers during PE lessons once a week. This takes place on Thursday afternoons as part of the children’s enrichment activities, where they focus on skills beyond the standard curriculum. These sessions are funded through Sports Premium. The class teacher leads the other two PE sessions, following the established PE curriculum. Additionally, a sports coach is present every lunchtime, offering sports coaching and engaging activities for the children.

The school hosts an exciting annual Sports Day, where the entire school comes together to participate in a variety of sporting activities, organised into colour teams. Students also take part in thrilling running races on the school track. Throughout the year, the school organizes other fun and inspiring sporting events, such as the Pancake Day run.
Year 2 children take part in sports events each year, including activities hosted at Letchworth Tennis Club and The Knights Templar School. A select group of children is chosen to represent Year 2 at the annual District Sports competition, where they join the junior school team.

Timetables

• Reception children have daily access to a well-equipped outdoor area, offering a range of physical activities. They also enjoy a dedicated PE session on Thursday mornings.
• SEND: A SEND-specific PE lesson is held on Thursday mornings for children who may struggle to access the regular PE sessions in their year group.
• Year 1 & 2 children receive two PE lessons with their class teacher and an additional sports session on Thursday afternoons.