AldringtonActive School
At Aldrington, we know that sport and physical exercise is vital to our physical, emotional and creative development and health. We promote regular physical activity throughout the day to help to stimulate children and embed the healthy routines that will last a lifetime.
Children enjoy two hours of physical education each week, typically focused on a different sporting discipline for half a term. Yet sport is also built into each day, through regular breaks, exercises and clubs.
Lesson Breaks
Physical activity, even just short spans of it, improves children’s cognitive function, focus, and well-being. Through brain breaks, short and quick physical activity sessions within the classrooms, students are able to regain focus and attention and therefore make the most of their learning opportunities.
Around the school, classes start the day with indoor exercises and dancing in ‘Wake and Shake’. To help children maintain focus in class throughout the day, children use regular ‘Brain Breaks’ involving the outside areas wherever possible.
At break and lunchtime, children in Years 3-6 have the chance to use a variety of sports equipment. Our popular exercise machines give children a chance to stretch and extend their muscle strength. Netballs, pogo sticks and hockey equipment allow children to play and expend energy at the same time.
Our outdoor play areas, such as the Hangout and the Treehouse are very popular. Children can climb through, over and under the Treehouse, sliding down the astroturf and clambering up the tyres. This is a fantastic resource that children of all ages return to again and again.
Children in Years 1-2 enjoy playing on the climbing frame. Whether this is balancing across the beam, slipping down the slide, clambering up the rope or traversing the monkey bars, the climbing frame is a very popular location that all children enjoy.
Extra-Curricular Sport
Children at Aldrington have the chance to take part in sports clubs both seasonally and throughout the year. These are some of our most popular clubs and activities.
Our Netball club runs in the Autumn and Spring terms on Thursday afternoons for girls in Years 5 and 6. We train every week and compete against local schools. Our Girls Football club runs in the Summer term on Thursday afternoons for girls in Years 4-6.
Our Street Dance club runs after school on Tuesday afternoons for children in Years 5 and 6 and Years 1 and 2 as well as on Fridays for children in Years 3 and 4. Street Dance is a fun, energetic and hugely enjoyable club that is popular among boys and girls alike. The highlight is the Let’s Dance performance at the Brighton Dome. We train for weeks and it is so rewarding to perform to a crowd of nearly two thousand.
Outdoors Projects runs after school on Wednesday afternoons for all children in Years 1-6. With games and activities in the open air, a change of shoes and a coat are advisable! Outdoors Projects is a great chance to have lots of fun and exercise in the fresh air.
Swerve Soccer runs throughout the year for children of all ages. Taking advantage of wide open spaces on the Nevill Playing Fields, these clubs are great opportunities to exercise and have fun with friends.
Encore! Tennis also runs throughout the year and is for children in Years 1-6. Children practice to serve (with an overarm throw), rally, and learn to play points. Coaches will help children to develop adaptive skills, coordination, balance & speed.
For details of all our extra-curricular clubs, please click here.
Sport Premium
Schools are awarded money specifically to be spent on increasing sporting provision for pupils. Here are some highlights of how we have used this money in recent years:
- New sports equipment for the playground, including pedal bikes, pogo sticks and balls.
- Staff training to improve quality of sports and dance teaching.
- Specialist sports development coach to lead girls' netball.
- Funding for outdoor adventurous activities including rock climbing.
Click to download our Sport Premium Report: