AClass activity programme
Liverpool primary schools join in new activity initiative
Taking on the Liverpool Active City “One step at a time” Challenge with a hop skip and a jump, primary school children are taking part in a unique initiative to help them become more active.
The A-CLASS (Active City Liverpool, Active Schools Sportslinx) project was devised by paediatric sport and exercise scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and targets two age groups - children in Year 4 (8 and 9 year olds) and also slightly older children in Year 6 (10 and 11 year olds).
Around 90 Year 4 pupils from six primary schools signed up for project, which involved attending two 1-hour after-school sessions every week for 12 weeks. These sessions focus on the development of fundamental movement skills, such as running, hopping, skipping, jumping, catching and balancing.
A further 90 Year 6 pupils also signed up for the after school clubs but this time activities focused on developing more high level skills, such as target games, exercising to music and high fives.
Gareth Stratton explains: "As well as the after-school sessions, we post all the children special challenges which are designed to get them more active, such as organising a family walk, watching less TV or even cleaning their bedroom. This has proved really successful as the children love getting their own letters."
Current recommendations suggest that children should engage in at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. However, less than half of primary age children achieve these recommendations
Gareth Stratton continues: "Being physically active in childhood can reduce the risk of health problems in later life. The citywide Sportslinx project shows that nearly 1 in 3 boys and nearly in 2 girls in Year 5 are overweight. We hope that A-Class can identify ways of reducing this alarming statistic, benefiting the health of children across the city."
The A-CLASS project is also providing vital research data on the impact of vigorous physical activities on the bone and cardiovascular health of children.
The A CLASS project is part of the wider Liverpool Active City programme and is supported by Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Liverpool City Council's Sportslinx Project.
Picture: Pupils from St Francis de Sales Catholic Junior School, just one of the primary schools taking part in the AClass initiative.
