Public Health England release guidance to help schools increase physical activity

Public Health England today released a briefing about the emerging evidence base around physical activity at school and its relationship to academic attainment, as well as promoting physical and emotional wellbeing in young people.

The briefing, titled What Works in Schools and Colleges to Increase Physical Activity?, provides an overview about interventions which increase levels of physical activity in young people.

In order for teachers and those in the education sector to be able to implement schemes based on the evidence, the briefing has distilled the advice down in to eight “promising principles for practice”:

1. Develop and deliver multi-component interventions
2. Ensure skilled workforce
3. Engage student voice
4. Create active environments
5. Offer choice and variety
6. Embed in curriculum, teaching and learning
7. Promote active travel
8. Embed monitoring and evaluation

The full briefing document can be found here.

The topic of children and young people and physical activity forms a part of the Alliance’s response to the Government’s sports strategy consultation, which can be seen here.