Our ‘Active Time’ is structured so that the children are physically active during their afternoon ‘break time.’ There is a cycle of activities over the week and the children go at their own pace. We have a team of young ‘Active Time Leaders’ who help plan, lead, support and encourage the children alongside a member of staff. The structured activities are helping us ensure that we are providing daily vigorous exercise in an encouraging/supportive setting but it also allows for children to run alongside their friends.
Active Time is non-competitive; it is aiding fitness (children are becoming more aware of a healthy lifestyle); daily physical activity helps children concentrate in the classroom; regular exercise can help reduce anxiety and stress; and it can also help develop a greater resilience and determination & promote self-care too.
We see a lot of smiling faces… and red faces… and I’m pretty sure I saw Mrs Summerfield lapping some of the children!
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day – the kind that gets them out of breath. They should also do some resistance exercise each week to strengthen their muscles. Despite this, fewer than 40% of children achieve these recommended levels. The Department For Education states primaries should deliver 30 minutes of “moderate to vigorous” activity for pupils every day (through active break times, extra-curricular physical education (PE) clubs and active lessons) – with parents responsible for providing another daily 30 minutes. A study in 2017, that involved 12,000 children, cited that children involved in ‘The Daily Mile’ were more awake, had increased attention and verbal memory, and improved their feelings of well-being.