Blog: Unlocking the Joy of Movement: Exciting Strategies to Inspire Primary School Children Towards an Active Lifestyle
Breaking Boundaries: Child Population Health Theme Lead, Professor Sonia Saxena, Leads alongside Dr Bina Ram on Groundbreaking Research to Revolutionise Children's Health through Active School Environments
Promoting physical activity in schools is essential for children's physical development and has wider benefits including better social and emotional health. Children spend a third of their time at school where there may be opportunities for all children to be physically active. The WHO’s Promoting Physical Activity Through Schools: A Toolkit sets out six criteria for schools; to provide quality physical education, opportunities for children to be physically active before and after school, and during scheduled breaks, active travel, active classrooms, and to provide physical activities for children with additional needs.
In November 2023, the project team gave an assembly on the importance of physical activity at St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery in Northwest London involving 420 children, aged 5–11 years. The team involved the children in a range of activities. Parents and teachers were all invited to attend the assembly, and everyone was encouraged to join in.
Emphasising public involvement, with collaboration from organisations, school staff, children, and parents
This project aims to investigate the impact of school environments on children's physical activity levels, social and emotional health, and educational performance. By analysing current school practices, policies, and physical environments, the research seeks to identify effective strategies to promote better health outcomes and reduce educational disparities among children. The study will assess various factors, including changes in school policy and physical activity post-COVID-19, equity in health promotion across different demographic groups, and the influence of environmental factors like access to green spaces on health and education. Through a cohort study involving diverse urban primary schools in Greater London, the research will objectively measure physical activity levels and health outcomes, while also examining school policies and environmental features that support physical activity.
Associated Research Theme
This news story is related to our Child Population Health theme.