A vital role for schools in helping reverse the half-century epidemic of physical inactivity is highlighted in the first of two reports from the All-Party Parliamentary Commission on Physical Activity (1), which was set up in 2013.
UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that all children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day – but less than a quarter reach this target (2).
The Commission highlights increasing evidence for the links between physical activity and academic performance, and promotes the idea that schools are ideally placed to ensure physical activity becomes a lifelong habit. It identifies the need for a whole school approach across the breadth of the scho0l day, with a number of ideas for creating an ‘active school’ (see below). Physical activity, the report states, needs to be regular, of good quality and appropriate to the age and abilities of the students, with a more diverse and inclusive offer.
IDEAS FOR CREATING AN ‘ACTIVE SCHOOL’
1. Continuing professional development (CPD) of teachers to understand how to build physical activity into lessons across all areas of the curriculum.
2. Creating school ‘active travel’ plans to encourage more young people to cycle/walk to school. This could include anything from a walking bus, to cycle training, to inter-school competitions.
3. Encourage the sharing of facilities such as through letting community sports clubs use school facilities to provide the after school opportunities for students in schools in the area.
4. Provide allowances to teachers running after school clubs.
5. Breakfast fitness clubs.
6. Short activity breaks between or during lessons.
Here at PhunkyFoods we’d love to hear from schools with their own ideas for increasing activity levels! The PhunkyFoods Programme has a full curriculum for physical activity, including ideas for small spaces, which can be accessed by our registered schools. Additional hands-on support is available in the growing number of areas where we have energetic Community Support Workers.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s second report “will further draw upon the enormous amount of evidence we gained to detail more actions we can take to get the UK moving again – because the facts show that the current status-quo is simply no longer an option”. Watch this space – and Get Active!
References:
1) All-Party Commission on Physical Activity (2014) Tackling Physical Inactivity— A Coordinated Approach.
2) Craig R, Mindell J (eds) (2013) Health Survey for England 2012, London: The Health and Social Care Information Centre.