Sports Funding - Norbury

Norbury Primary School and Nursery    

Sports Funding Statement July 2022

The Government allocates additional funding to schools to develop the quality, and increase the amount of sports provision for all children from Reception to Year Six.  Funding can only be used to help children to develop a healthy lifestyle and develop sustainable methods of improved provision which will offer children more than the basic requirements of the national curriculum.  It is designed to improve the quality of teaching and widen the range of opportunities available to all children.  We are obliged to publish the details of exactly how this funding has been spent each year and the impact that it has had upon children’s participation in sports and adventurous outdoor activities. 

At Norbury, we embrace a wide range of sports and encourage all children to try new ones whenever possible.  We encourage participation in team events and individual challenges which promote health and high self-esteem.  We also encourage children to be able to assess risks for themselves, in order that they can take part in adventurous activities in a safe manner with good supervision.  To see exactly how we provide these opportunities, just take a look through the gallery pictures on our website, or look at the pictures and reports on our Facebook page (invited guests only - please speak to Mrs Nikki Rodick in the office if you have not received your invitation).

We use the funding to promote sustainability of sports provision by training Norbury staff members in new sports and activities as children play and learn.  One of the major obstacles to providing children with high quality sporting experiences in such a rural location is transportation.  For this reason, using the funding to provide transport is an essential part of our strategy.  We use funding for additional transport to enable us to use local facilities such as local village halls, Community College Bishop’s Castle and to enable us to take part in outdoor projects such as The John Muir Award, using local outdoor spaces.  You will see from our website, that we frequently travel further afield to places such as Bala, New Quay, Barmouth, Llangollen and many other places so that we can provide a wide range of outdoor and adventurous sports and activities.  These activities not only promote a healthy and active lifestyle, but also widen children’s experience of the world and develop confidence. To reduce costs and improve access and flexibility to all classes, as a Federation we have leased two minibuses using sports funding from our three schools.  Where buses have been used for activities other than sports and health promotion, School/PTA has paid money back into the Sport Funding budget on a per mile basis.  This will then be used to support further sporting opportunities.

In the year 2021/22 we received £16,554.  This was spent on the following: Please Note that due to Covid restrictions since 2020 many of our usual activities remained suspended, especially competitive team sports.  This has led to sizeable surpluses accruing which we now intend to spend by July 2023 to further promote a wider range of sports and health promoting activities. During this difficult period, we have spent more money on promoting extending physical activity on school sites.  Where a £0 spend is shown, each area demonstrates what we would usually offer, for information.  Also note that Norbury and Stiperstones schools work together on one site and therefore to see the full picture of our spending, you will need to view the Stiperstones statement too.

Children’s Achievement and Attainment in Swimming 2021/22

Through our policy of promoting swimming from the Reception Year through to Year 6, and the additional funding put to teaching and learning additional to the minimum requirements of the National Curriculum, we usually expect all children who started their school careers with us to achieve significantly beyond the minimum expectations.  Due to the pandemic, we did not teach nor assess swimming in 2021/22.  The data below shows the percentage of children that we are sure had already surpassed the requirement in their previous year, based upon our previous assessments.  However, where children have joined our school in later in their career or where we are unsure we have not recorded a result for this year. 

Swim 25 metres, unaided by end of Year 6                                                   100%

Swim using a range of styles by end of Year 6                                              100%

Successfully use personal survival techniques by end of Year 6                  100%

Impact of Our Sports Strategy

Covid has significantly impacted our usual pattern of inter school competition and attendance at inter school sports events in general.  However, we have endeavoured to ensure that all children continued to develop a love of sport and adventure during this time. For example, by encouraging individual sports and adventure challenges and providing greater opportunity for individual sports. During this time we have also invested in equipment to provide greater opportunities for on-site fitness and enjoyment of sport.  For example, by purchasing a fleet of mountain bikes and installing adventure play, and fitness equipment for all age groups on the Norbury Site.  Evidence of the success of these investments is obvious every day at play times, lunch times and during dedicated mountain biking sessions.  Children love this equipment and it inspires them to play and be active.

We did however begin to return to normal practice in cricket where Norbury competed successfully in inter-schools tournaments.  At the end of the summer term, all children attended sports festivals at The Community College BC, which were thoroughly enjoyed and valued. These will now continue at least termly, and in the summer months, monthly.

Now that conditions allow, we immediately aim to return to competitive and non-competitive inter-school sports.  We will provide extended opportunities in all aspects of sport, adventure and fitness.

Shropshire Hills Federation is fully committed to the promotion and development of healthy lifestyles for children and adults.