Engage To Compete Programme Encourages Lunchtime Activity

A new Sport-England funded programme has engaged more than 15,000 school children in regular activity by upskilling lunchtime assistants and other school staff to deliver sessions. Led by youth activity specialist Fit For Sport, the Engage To Compete programme trained over than 700 school staff to deliver regular physical activity sessions. Lunchtime assistants, teaching assistants, teachers, PE coordinators and senior leadership teams were shown how to engage all children in activity and help them to achieve the guidelines of 60 minutes of activity a day for every child. With a focus on lunchtime activity – a key time to get children active – 44 schools across the two regions benefited from training and guidance on how to increase physical activity, develop competition using a set of simple challenges to measure children’s physical literacy and fitness levels including stamina, agility and co-ordination. As a result, the schools reported an improvement in children’s behaviour and concentration levels. Children’s activity levels also improved and staff felt more confident to take an active role in play time.