Ipswich primary school students helped by their school peers to get more active

Published15th February 2022

Children in Ipswich primary schools will improve their physical literacy with a new programme that challenges them to do more activities.

This programme will see Year 5 and 6 Young Leaders in 28 schools across the Ipswich area help those in Years 2, 3 and 4 try out and become better in various activities such as jumping, throwing and running. The progress of the younger pupils will be recorded and they will be challenged to improve their scores. The aim is to involve 4,000 school students and 400 new Young Leaders.

The Primary School Multi-skills Leadership and Physical Activity programme has been developed between Ipswich Borough Council, Ali Furlong - the School Games Organiser for the Ipswich area and Active Suffolk (who seek to increase people being active).

Tutors in the programme from the Council, Active Suffolk, Ipswich Town Community Trust, Inspire Suffolk and sports coaches from participating primary schools go into each school and train Young Leaders in Year 5 and 6 on how to deliver the activities and keep track of the scores.

Each school student will receive a copy of a Healthy Inspiration Board, which provides a range of activities the students. Students then try as many of these activities out of school. They are also encouraged to create their own activities.

Each activity is designed to get the young person to do a minimum of 30 mins of physical activity, which when combined with the activity they do in school gets them to do 60 mins of activity a day. 60 mins a day is the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended amount of physical activity for children and young people. When students reach a certain number of activities, they get a reward.

Cllr Bryony Rudkin, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure, says:

“I’m delighted that Ipswich Borough Council has been able to work closely with our School Games colleagues and with Active Suffolk in making this idea a reality. It’s vital we support children in being physically active and building a life-long love of moving, sport and physical activity. The leadership aspect of the programme is excellent because it provides those upper Key Stage 2 students with crucial skills that will help them further along in life and inspire those who want a career in the sport and leisure industry in the future.”

Ali Furlong, School Games Organiser, says:

“It’s great seeing an idea we had last Spring come to be a reality and with 28 primary schools taking part, it’s been a hit with schools. The concept of Multi-skills in primary schools itself isn’t new – but the way we are trying to deliver it and monitor progress and have the out of school challenges to try to encourage 60 minutes of daily activity is a different approach and this help schools with their PE and Sport targets of supporting 60 active minutes. One pupil told me it was a lot of fun as the challenges were really exciting and she will get fit.”

James Payne, Senior Development Officer – Children and Young People at Active Suffolk, says:

“Active Suffolk is delighted to be supporting this project which not only demonstrates innovation in its design but shows the true value of working collaboratively by utilising the skills and expertise of several local partners.  At a time when arguably physical activity levels for our young people has never been more important, this project contributes towards raising these levels and encouraging the recommended average of 60 minutes of activity per day. 

 

Photos – 1. students practising Multi-skills at Whitehouse Community Primary School, Ipswich. 

Both photo credits – Ipswich Borough Council.