Sports Premium

How much funding did we receive?

For the academic year, Thornham St James C of E Primary School received £17,700 in Primary PE and Sport Premium funding.

This funding is provided by the Department for Education to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of physical education, physical activity and sport in primary schools.

How we spent the funding

The funding has been used strategically to strengthen curriculum delivery, increase participation in physical activity and sport, and to build long-term capacity across the school in line with the DfE’s five key indicators.

• Sports competition package
  We bought into organised inter-school sports competitions to provide regular opportunities for pupils to take part in competitive sport. This has enabled pupils to represent the school and develop teamwork, resilience, confidence and sportsmanship.

• PE Planner
  We purchased PE Planner to support high-quality PE curriculum delivery. This provides structured lesson sequences, clear progression of skills and knowledge from EYFS to Year 6, and assessment support. This has improved consistency in teaching, increased staff confidence and strengthened subject knowledge, reducing reliance on external providers.

• Forest School provision
  We employed a trained Teaching Assistant to deliver Forest School sessions across the school. This provision enhances physical development, outdoor learning, teamwork and wellbeing, and offers inclusive opportunities for pupils who benefit from practical, outdoor and alternative learning approaches.

• OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)
  We bought into OPAL to improve the quality of playtimes and increase levels of physical activity throughout the school day. This has supported active, creative and inclusive play, ensuring pupils are physically active beyond timetabled PE lessons.

The impact on participation and attainment

As a result of this targeted use of funding:

• Participation in PE, physical activity and school sport has increased across all year groups

• More pupils are taking part in inter-school competitions, including pupils who may not typically engage in sport

• Playtimes are more active, inclusive and purposeful, with higher levels of sustained physical movement

• Pupils show improved physical confidence, coordination, teamwork, resilience and self-regulation

• Forest School has had a positive impact on pupil wellbeing, engagement and physical development, particularly for pupils with additional needs

• Staff confidence and consistency in delivering high-quality PE has improved through structured planning and clear progression

How will this be sustainable?

Sustainability is a key focus of our use of the Primary PE and Sport Premium:

• Investment in PE Planner builds staff expertise and strengthens long-term curriculum quality

• Improved staff confidence reduces reliance on external coaches and supports consistent delivery year on year

• Forest School is now embedded as a regular part of the curriculum, supporting physical development and wellbeing across the school

• OPAL principles are embedded into daily practice, ensuring continued active play without ongoing high-cost investment

• A whole-school approach to physical activity ensures impact extends beyond PE lessons into playtimes and everyday school life

The impact of the Primary PE and Sport Premium is reviewed annually to ensure best value for money and continued improvement in outcomes for all pupils.

 

Year 6 Swimming Outcomes

In 2024–2025, with 96% of our Year 6 pupils being competent swimmers, able to swim confidently and competently over a distance of 25 metres or more. They could use a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.