Health & Wellbeing
Ensuring that P.E, sport and physical activity is high quality and accessed by all can play a major role in maintaining and improving the health and wellbeing of young people.
Children and young people's participation in physical activity is important for their healthy growth and development. It can reduce the risk of chronic conditions (for example, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease) and improve their general health and wellbeing.
Physical activity is also associated with improved attainment, attendance, improved concentration levels, more positive social behaviour, such as being kind to class mates and attempting to resolve disputes, and children feeling liked by peers and that they have enough friends. Physical activity is also associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression with children being happier with their appearance and reporting higher levels of self-esteem, happiness and satisfaction with their lives. Enjoying physical activity is also associated with happiness and lower levels of worry.
Current guidelines recommend that children and young people should do a minimum of 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity physical activity each day. At least three times a week, this should include activities to improve bone health (weight-bearing activities that produce high physical stresses on the bones, such as running and jumping), muscle strength and flexibility.
- Fit 4 It
Norwich City Community Sports Foundation deliver Fit4It. Fit4it is a fun, interactive healthy lifestyle programme for young people aged 5–16 years.
- Norfolk Healthy Schools
The Healthy Norfolk Schools Team offers practical advice support and training to develop policies and practices that promote improvement in children and young people’s health which in turn helps pupils achieve their potential, raising levels of achievement, improving standards and life chances.
- Sainsbury’s Active Kids 4 All Inclusive PE
Delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, this one day course will help you to embed inclusive practice in your planning, delivery and assessment within the curriculum as KS1 & KS2.
Change4Life Sports Clubs are a new type of extracurricular sports club, designed to increase physical activity levels in less active children in primary schools by:
- Using multi-sport themes (primary)
- Using the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Responding to what children want.
- Establishing a habit of regular participation.
- Developing a real sense of belonging.
- Changing behaviours relating to key health outcomes (including healthy eating, physical activity and emotional health).
Contact your local School Sports Partnership to find out how you can host a C4L club in your school – www.norfolkssps.co.uk
- What works in Schools
A Government briefing paper for head teachers, college principals, staff working in education settings, directors of public health and wider partners.
Got any questions?
For further support in ensuring that you are maximising the power of physical activity for health benefits contact Stephen Hulme.
Stephen Hulme
Development Manager – Children and Young People
Whilst studying Sports Development at University I undertook a 12 month placement with Active Norfolk. Having finished my degree I returned to Norfolk as a Rural Sports Development Officer delivering the Village Games before managing projects such as Sport Makers, Satellite Clubs and School Games. In my current role I lead on developing and delivering the Sport, PE, Physical Activity and Development strategy for Young People in the county. In my role I aim to raise the profile and understanding of the importance of physical activity and I oversee workstrands aimed at improving the experience and participation of sport, PE and physical activity for young people.
- Telephone
- 01603 732 381
- stephen.hulme@activenorfolk.org