KS1 · Year 2 · National Curriculum Aligned
Year 2 PE Scheme of Work
In Year 2, pupils apply the movement skills developed in Year 1 with greater purpose and intent. They begin to make simple decisions in game situations, develop more sustained gymnastic sequences, use dance to communicate ideas and stories, and engage in cooperative team activities. The focus remains on positive participation and enjoyment whilst introducing friendly competition.
Pupils develop physical confidence and start to self-assess and improve their own work. They learn to respect partners and opponents, understanding that effort and improvement are more important than winning.
At a glance
Units
6 half-term units
Key stage
KS1
Year group
Year 2
NC alignment
Full programmes of study
Expected prior knowledge
- ✓Fundamental movement skills: running, jumping, throwing, catching and balance from Year 1
- ✓Simple body shapes and point balances from Y1 gymnastics
- ✓Early dance vocabulary: level, direction, speed and action words
- ✓Experience of target games and simple rule-based activity
Units across the year
Six half-term units covering all strands of the KS2 PE programme of study.
Autumn 1Games
Games and Teamwork
National Curriculum objectives
- –To master basic movements and begin to apply them in simple team games
- –To develop skills of cooperation, communication and decision-making
- –To play by agreed rules and understand fair play
Key activities
- –Cooperative warm-up games: chain tag, team circle passing
- –Developing ball-handling skills: dribbling, passing and receiving
- –Playing simplified invasion games: keep ball and end-zone games
- –Discussing tactics: when to pass, when to move, how to support a team-mate
- –Team challenges with shared goals rather than just individual scoring
Key vocabulary
teamcooperatepassreceiveattackdefendtacticfair play
Autumn 2Gymnastics
Gymnastics: Travelling and Balancing
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop a range of travelling actions and link them fluently to balances
- –To create and perform a short gymnastics sequence with a clear beginning, middle and end
- –To observe and describe what they see in others' work
Key activities
- –Exploring travelling actions: rolls (log, egg, teddy bear), slides, jumps and hops
- –Refining safety rolls and jumps with safe landings
- –Building a 3-part sequence: travel, balance, travel
- –Using low apparatus (benches, mats) to enhance sequences
- –Peer observation: watching a partner and giving one positive comment
Key vocabulary
travelrolljumpsequencefluentapparatuscontrolobserve
Spring 1Dance
Dance: Storytelling through Movement
National Curriculum objectives
- –To perform dances using simple movement patterns
- –To use movement to communicate a narrative or character
- –To work with a partner to create and share a dance
Key activities
- –Exploring how characters move differently (giant vs. fairy, robot vs. jelly)
- –Learning a taught narrative dance sequence based on a familiar story
- –Choosing actions to represent events in the story
- –Creating a short partner dance with a clear story arc
- –Performing to the class and watching others with respect
Key vocabulary
characternarrativestoryactionexpressionpartnerperformaudience
Spring 2Athletics
Athletics: Throwing and Jumping
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop throwing for distance and accuracy using a range of equipment
- –To improve jumping technique: standing jump, hop, step and jump
- –To compare and improve performance using simple self-assessment
Key activities
- –Underarm and overarm throwing for distance with beanbags, foam javelins and balls
- –Coaching points for throwing: grip, stance, arm swing, follow-through
- –Standing broad jump and triple jump (hop-step-jump) on grass
- –Measuring throws and jumps and recording personal bests
- –Mini athletics meeting: celebrating personal improvement
Key vocabulary
throwdistanceoverarmunderarmhopstepjumppersonal best
Summer 1Games
Net Games (Simple)
National Curriculum objectives
- –To develop sending, receiving and returning skills in a net game context
- –To understand the basic concept of a net game
- –To play cooperatively and competitively within simple rules
Key activities
- –Developing hand-eye coordination through balloon and bubble activities
- –Practising over-net sending with paddles and foam balls
- –Setting up simple nets or ropes and playing cooperative rallies
- –Introducing simple scoring rules and playing mini matches
- –Discussing what makes a good shot and how to make it difficult for an opponent
Key vocabulary
netrallyservereturnforehandspacecooperatecompete
Summer 2Swimming
Swimming
National Curriculum objectives
- –To swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
- –To use a range of strokes effectively
- –To perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations
Key activities
- –Building water confidence: floating on front and back unaided
- –Developing leg kick on front and back with float support
- –Learning introductory front crawl arm action
- –Practising safe entry and exit from the pool
- –Supervised introduction to self-rescue: tread water and reach to safety
Key vocabulary
floatkickstrokefront crawlbreatheconfidencerescuedistance
Progression into Year 3
In Year 3, pupils enter KS2 and engage with more formal skill development, tactical thinking and competitive games. They begin to develop sustained gymnastic sequences on apparatus, use dance to respond to complex stimuli, compete in athletics events and learn striking and fielding game skills.
Individual lesson plans
Full lesson frameworks — learning objectives, vocabulary, lesson structure, and common misconceptions — for each unit in this scheme.
View all Year 2 PE lesson plans →