Description

Teaching High Quality Physical Education (PE) in Primary Schools

A fully accredited UK national qualification at Level 3

This On-line national qualification course is aimed at developing confidence and competence in those planning, supporting, and teaching physical education to primary aged pupils. It is suitable for all those currently working with primary aged children who are or will be deployed to support or teach physical education (PE).

Audience: This specialist qualification is highly suitable for:

• Teachers (QTS) – UK or International

• HLTA’s / TA’s – UK or International

• Sports Coaches – UK or International

• Instructors – UK or International

• Cover Supervisors – UK or International where role exists

• Specialist Sports Coaches (PPA providers) – UK or International

A specialist UK based national qualification suitable for anyone wanting to ensure their focus is always upon safe, progressive learning and the needs of the child. It is a perfect mix of school based practical development / learning and theory components delivered via our established on-line platform. Learner’s can work at their own pace, safe in their own space, progressing at a rate appropriate to their background, experience, context and preference. School based mentoring and support is similar to that of many initial teacher education routes.

Join ANY time – you can start whenever YOU want….. it’s YOUR CPD after all!!

This course is as flexible as an Olympic Gymnast!!!!! (well almost!)

This course also meets our Values in offering a sustainable solution, which is flexible, provides practical solutions which are focused on standards. This is part of our commitment to empowering schools to self-sustain high-quality PE / PESSPA irrespective and despite PE and sport premium funding which may change or cease altogether. Find out more about our Sustainable Solution and Values – HERE

With no examinations, no essays, school-based learning for the main part, reflective tasks, additional reading, resources, practical tips to try, on-line lessons, knowledge reviews and tasks. It allows you to develop over time becoming more confident and competent in your teaching, improving the outcomes for ALL your pupils. Written by us and accredited through Gateway Qualifications. This course is highly recommended in achieving impact within the primary school setting whether here in the UK or in schools abroad. It develops in partnership with schools experience, skills, training and provides upon successful completion – a qualification approved by Ofqual and on the Registered Qualification Framework (RQF). This national qualification is recognised around the world where ever UK based qualifications are accepted.

Please note UK schools can book and pay for additional half-day support visits/observations etc. to provide their staff member(s) with face-to-face training and consolidation. This can be ordered via the booking form or please contact us to discuss your needs. Costs £200 per half-day – plus travel at 50p/mile.

Primary schools in England can and should use their PE Premium to access this national qualification (level 3) which is aimed at supporting the delivery of high quality PE. It provides training and a qualification for those supporting, or teaching PE – including teachers (QTS) who wish to gain a specialist qualification to boost their CV. The course will ensure not only confidence and competence are boosted but also that knowledge and understanding of such aspects as pedagogy, the rationale behind physical education, purposeful, meaningful PE, physical literacy, assessment etc. For UK based learners it will ensure full awareness and understanding of the national curriculum and physical education (which is being rewritten and will implement 2026/27). 

• This course upskills staff and builds capacity and sustainability [National Key Indicator 1]
• Allows sports coaches and others to be deployed with confidence
• Provides specific physical education in a primary school qualification and focus to support sports coaches et al
• Increases teachers (QTS) confidence and competence to teach high quality PE – boosting impact and best practice
• Supports teachers to develop towards ‘Outstanding’ by increasing subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding
• Provides a framework for competence to teach PE for headteachers, Governing Bodies, Trustees etc. to apply to staffing
• Covers curricular physical education (except swimming) rather than sport
• Suitable for International schools, non-UK based schools and International Learners

“Taking this course has significantly deepened my understanding of effective physical education practices. Throughout the course, I developed a stronger grasp of how to design learning experiences that are purposeful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate. This course has strengthened my confidence as a PE educator. The knowledge and strategies I gained have not only improved the quality of my lessons but also enhanced students’ enjoyment and understanding of physical education.”

Thomas Kelly – DLTS Thailand November 2025

Learning Outcomes

Through this course the learner will:-

• Know the expectations for pupils for Physical Education (PE) in primary schools
• Be able to plan inclusive primary PE lessons
• Be able to deliver lessons in primary PE that reflect the PE Teaching Competence Standards (PETCS)
• Be able to develop pupils’ wider skills through PE
• Be able to support the progress and achievement in PE of all pupils
• Be able to develop and plan for own Continued Professional Development (CPD) in PE

The purpose of this course is to support the development of high quality PE for all pupils in primary schools by empowering teachers, school staff and coaches to deliver it for all pupils. The course builds a school’s capacity, resilience and ability to sustain high quality PE for all current and all future pupils. Learners must evidence their ability to meet all the assessment criteria, including the PE Teaching Competence Standards (PETCS), successfully complete all lessons, tasks, knowledge reviews on-line, be signed off by their headteacher against the assessment criteria, submit a series of detailed lesson plans which they have taught whilst being observed and that are evaluated, show evidence of assessing pupils progress and detailed observation for learning. On-line lessons and tasks include developing cross-curricular learning and supporting the development of literacy and numeracy through PE.

“Overall, I really enjoyed the course. I would definitely recommend and encourage others to use it. Huge thanks to Martin for being so helpful, supportive and understanding throughout!”  Chloe Hines –  Teacher (QTS), Dickleburgh Primary Academy.

VisionED believes that every child is entitled to and should experience high quality physical education irrespective of any factor. High quality PE is not just the domain of the few but should be open, accessible and appropriately challenging for all. With an increased focus on SEND, this course facilitates all to understand that good teaching for ALL supports all learners and develops a teachers competence to ensure all pupils make good or better progress.

This national qualification is an effective partnership between the school, the learner and VisionED to develop competence through training, experience, skills and a qualification. Headteachers are key in supporting their staff development and PE subject leaders can enhance their support and develop greater subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding of their staff. This course is based on over 10 years of delivery, development and experience. It was part of the portfolio or work by our Director which contributed to him being awarded a national award for ‘Leadership & Influence’ from the Association for Physical Education (afPE).  The course remains the same qualification, but all the materials have been updated and continue to be in order to reflect the landscape in which we work.

“We use and deploy our specialist PE trained staff to great effect here at Mile Cross Primary and I can vouch from sustained personal experience for the quality of the training and the impact of those qualified. We are training two more this year to ensure a real sustainable legacy as well as high standards for our pupils. I am an advocate for what VisionED is offering” – Stuart Allen – Headteacher, Mile Cross Primary – an Outstanding Primary School in Norwich.

This course represents incredible cost effectiveness and therefore allows greater flexibility to spend a higher proportion of a schools PE allocation or for schools in England, their PE and sport premium upon pupils.

FAQ’s:

Q: How long on average do most learners take to complete the course?

A: Most learners take approx. 3 terms to complete and get their national qualification. Some, who are more experienced or have a high teaching workload (i.e. teaching mostly PE lessons a week) complete this earlier whilst others take longer but the average length of time is three terms or 1 academic year. This allows for a work-life balance which we feel is important.

Q: how much support is available?

A: As much as we can provide to help. Some learners need more whilst others very little. We ensure equity wherever possible so that our learners achieve their potential. Feedback and support, including developmental feedback is provided within 24/48 hours.

Q: I work in an International School outside the UK. Can I still do the course?

A: Yes of course. The on-line nature of the course allows learners from around the globe potentially! If you want to improve your skills, enhance your knowledge and extend your impact then this UK awarded qualification can really help you.

Q: I am a sports coach working across several schools. Can I still access this course?

A: Yes of course. We work with our learners to ensure that they can access this important national qualification.

Q: Do I need to be ‘sporty’ or good at PE to do this course?

A: Not at all – you need to be child-focussed and willing to learn in order to teach high-quality PE to those with whom you are working. If you didn’t enjoy PE at school you are often far more empathetic and keen to ensure others did not feel like you did. We are very experienced at working with a full range of learners, their backgrounds and experience. If you are here to improve outcomes for pupils then we will do everything we can to help you achieve and make the right impact for ALL.

Testimonials:

“I really enjoyed the course and found it so useful. Right from the initial zoom meeting with my tutor, Martin, I was made to feel comfortable and relaxed about the course. Being from an American School I was concerned about how the different approaches, curriculum etc. would work but I was assured and re-assured by all the feedback and support as I went through the course. Martin listened and took the time to understand what PE was all about in our school and our curriculum which was totally reassuring.

The course layout is easy to follow, progressive and sequenced to facilitate easy progression with everything I needed to hand or identified as an in-school resource. Feedback to all the written tasks was fast! Sometimes within a matter of minutes but always within the 48 hours window set by VisionED. This feedback was always thorough and it helped me progress and develop as it was more than just about how I answered the task – it was about me and developmental ideas.

Managing the additional work was simply a case of doing it a bit at a time and right from the outset it was made very clear to me that this was okay and that a work-life balance was important. This reduced the pressure that I felt and made me feel like I was in charge and didn’t have to hit deadlines that did not take account of my busy work schedule or homelife. It also allowed me time to try things out in my teaching, to practice and get feedback from my colleagues.

I feel that I have really developed my practice as a teacher of PE, my knowledge, understanding and skills and not just as a specialist teacher of swimming, my current role – but also now as a teacher of physical education in the school. I really enjoy taking PE and my confidence has improved. I have had great support from my tutor and staff here at The American School in London. I would thoroughly recommend the course to anyone working in the primary sector, teaching assistant, cover supervisor, instructor, coach, or teacher!

Thank you VisionED!”  Kendra Semple, The American School In London – July 2024

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‘My biggest improvement would be my understanding and being able to plan and adapt sessions and activities based on a student needs and disabilities to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to take part in PE. An improvement that has massively improved my teaching would be my confidence, although this seems small, having more confidence from what mentors and this course have taught me has made my teaching much more effective for pupils’ engagement and progressions. My skills of assessing pupils progress have improved massively- this is something I’d never done before this course and now I understand the importance of assessing the pupils progress and how much this can benefit the planning and delivery of future lessons to assist the pupils as much as they need.’ – Georgina Belton, Langham Primary (January 2023)

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“Since starting my course and working with SEND children, I now feel far more confident delivering PE sessions that are inclusive and engaging. VisionED has supported me massively in developing my understanding of how to adapt activities to meet a wide range of needs and abilities. The knowledge and confidence I have gained through this course have had a really positive impact on my practice, allowing me to plan and deliver sessions where every child feels supported and able to take part. The tutor, Martin, was incredibly helpful, and the support I received throughout the course was exceptional. Overall, VisionED has helped me grow both professionally and personally, and has made a significant difference to my confidence and effectiveness when teaching PE to SEND pupils.”
Oshea Winter, The Parkside School – Level 3 Teaching & Learning in PE Primary Schools – January 2026

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“I have thoroughly enjoyed completing this course, each task was explained clearly, giving you all of the necessary information before each assessment. It was really interesting and I particularly enjoyed learning how to plan inclusive for all lessons and how best to use and adapt equipment. Pitting the lesson plans into practice has been great too. Learning from each lesson, what went well or what could have gone better, through the help of a mentor and receiving prompt feedback from Martin once each evaluation and any tasks were handed in!

I’ve genuinely learnt a great deal through the range of the content in the course, from lesson planning, which I had never done, understanding how each child can get the best out of a lesson that is planned and adapted to suit all. To finding out where to resource information to assist in lesson planning. On completing this course, I have gained confidence overall in teaching, not just in physical education but in any lesson, I am asked to cover and feel fully engaged with the children now I have this confidence.”  – Kelly Wilson, Stoke Holy Cross Primary School (May 2023)

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‘I really enjoyed this excellent course with VisionED – the national qualification in Teaching and Learning in Primary PE and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone whether Teacher (QTS), Instructor, Coach, Teaching Assistant or Cover Supervisor. Martin was great, very approachable,    always quick to respond, reply to messages and always really supportive. I would definitely recommend the course to others and hope to be able to do the next course soon with VisionED’.  Kirsty Seager – Poringland Primary School, Norfolk

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“I would wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone looking to teach physical education as it has been one of the best courses I have ever done! Not only does the course provide you with substantial information and knowledge of different areas of what we teach in physical education in primary schools, but it has amazing resources to guide you throughout. Martin has always been there to support throughout the course and at times, given feedback that allows you to think outside of the box. Not only has that been constructive but also refreshing.

Throughout the course, I have put into practice the methods suggested and the results have been fundamental to my teaching. I particularly enjoyed implementing the importance of safety, from setting up equipment and making sure the children understand the importance of being safe.

If anyone is thinking about registering for this course, please do. It has been enjoyable and broadened by knowledge tenfold. Thank you, Martin.”   Louise Giles, Swaffham Primary Academy (2024)