Sports pilot programme for Ashfield schools

Everyone Active - the company that manages the district’s leisure centres - has started pilots for the programme at two Sutton primary schools, Mapplewells and Hillocks.

The project, called Sporting FUNdamentals, will help youngsters learn and develop the fundamental skills of movement - agility, balance, co-ordination and speed - and give them the chance to take part in 14 different sports.

The aim is to ensure that every child becomes more active, more often and ultimately achieves lifelong participation in physical activity.

Michelle Wykes, community engagement manager for Everyone Active, said: “The programme is designed to leave a legacy at schools, signposting children into community sports clubs or targeted services which will support schools and families.

“We encourage school teaching staff to interact with the programme so that they can continue the good work and incorporate the learning into standard PE lessons.”

The pilot is six weeks long and will include sports such as curling and tri-golf as well as weekly sessions on the basics of healthy eating.

The children took part in a short fitness test and healthy eating quiz at the start of the pilot and will be re-tested at the end to chart their progress. The results will be announced in December.

The project will then be rolled out across Ashfield, offering schools the opportunity to have a programme designed specifically for their requirements.

The Sporting FUNdamentals programme is specifically aimed at primary schools in Ashfield and organisers are looking for more schools to get involved. It consists of one hour per week of sport followed by an interactive healthy eating workshop.

Ashfield District Council, the NHS and Healthy Schools Nottinghamshire are all involved.

Any school wanting to find out more should contact Michelle Wykes on 07711 370215 or [email protected].