National Obesity Awareness Week

Hi everyone!  Happy New Year!  Hope you had a lovely, restful and restorative Christmas break?

Here at JumpStart HQ we totally unplugged ourselves for two weeks – no social media or emails.  It was bliss!  And now we’re back and ready for action.

January is usually the time where people make resolutions for the forthcoming year and often they are related to diet, food and exercise.  Perhaps because it’s easy to reach for just ‘one more’ mince pie or to nibble on the children’s numerous selection boxes over the festive period!  And because most of us have chance to take a break from work, its a good opportunity to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and set new targets for the one ahead.

I’ve set myself a number of goals for 2018 and I’ve tried to keep my personal goals separate from my aims with my business.  One of my biggies is to not work in the evenings – it’s so tempting to check your emails, only to discover an hour of your time has now suddenly disappeared.

You may be aware that it’s National Obesity Awareness Week, which seems apt after what can be an indulgent festive break.  Did you also know that the government published ‘Childhood Obesity: A Plan For Action’ back in August 2016?

Nearly one third of children (between the ages of 2-15) are overweight or obese.  To address this worrying statistic, the government have set out a number of recommendations, including a soft drinks industry levy which is providing much of the capital for the newly increased Primary PE and Sport Premium.

Importantly, children are now required to spend 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity EVERY DAY.  And a whole 30 minutes of this activity should be facilitated through Primary schools.

In fact, schools will now be assessed on their use and impact of the Premium by Ofsted.

Has your school checked the new guidelines on how to use the Premium?  And did you know it can be spent on dance?  Here’s some useful information taken from the One Dance UK guide…

The PE & Sport Premium can be used to cover the following types of provision:

•Upskilling teachers to be able to confidently deliver dance activity

•Bringing in dance specialists to deliver additional sessions under the supervision of the teacher, to expand and deepen the delivery of existing core PE sessions

•To add new breakfast and after-school dance clubs

•To develop dance performance platforms with other local schools

Why use the funding on dance activity?

Dance is a compulsory part of the PE curriculum at Key Stage 1 and 2. Schools are using this funding to increase the amount and quality of dance that is offered to their pupils. Dance is very popular amongst children and young people. It combines physical literacy with imagination and creativity and is very useful element in devising cross-curricular work.

Through dance children develop:

•Fundamental movement skills and balance, agility and coordination

•Verbal and non-verbal communication of ideas and emotions

•Team working

•Problem solving

•Observing, evaluating skills

The impact of dance can:

•Increase physical confidence and awareness

•Increase enjoyment of movement and physical activity

•Increase attainment and aspiration

•Improve mental health, enhancing happiness, self-esteem and body attitude

•Reduce stress and anxiety levels

•Improve attitudes to health and well-being, creating a foundation for life-long participation

•Improve health problems – helping to tackle obesity and future diseases