Over 13,000 Suffolk primary school children now benefitting from Daily Mile campaign
Source: East Anglian Daily Times
Date: 14-December-2018
Winter might not seem the obvious time to get children out and about, but the success of The Daily Mile campaign suggests otherwise – as more Suffolk schools than ever commit to fit regular exercise into the school day.
The Daily Mile, in which children jog or run at their own pace for 15 minutes daily, has seen another 25 schools sign up since the summer holidays – the biggest leap in numbers since the campaign launched in Suffolk in May last year.
There are now 64 schools in Suffolk registered, meaning 13,000 primary school pupils are regularly exercising.
Emma Churchman, headteacher at Martlesham Primary Academy near Ipswich, said implementing The Daily Mile had helped the school embed values of ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Since registering for the scheme in October 2018, the schoolchildren now look forward to their regular exercise, which slots in perfectly with the school day. She said: “In terms of benefits, we’ve seen increased collaboration across the school. The exercise increases adrenaline levels, which in turn really helps to tackle any afternoon dips in concentration.“
Councillor James Reeder, Cabinet Member for Health at Suffolk County Council, said: “Teachers have a lot on their plate, and what’s so great about The Daily Mile is its simplicity. Each school does it in their own way. It’s not only about physical activity, but keeping the mind active which can help improve concentration and support academic attainment.”
This article has been reproduced with the kind permission of the content creator, East Anglian Daily Times. To read the article in full, please click the link below.