On Friday 7th July Sally Gunnell OBE visited Pakefield Primary School, Norfolk, to deliver an inspiring whole school assembly and classroom visits to help support Premier’s health and wellbeing programme.
Pakefield Primary school have become Premier’s flagship school, taking on all three wellbeing programmes (Play-Trition, Fun-Trition and Fit-Trition) to ensure a ‘Whole School Approach’ to health and wellbeing. Research from Premier last year discovered that just 10% of UK children are partaking in physical activity every day at school and only 25% manage an hour or more of exercise a day. Pakefield Primary is setting a shining example to schools nationally on how to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Sally Gunnell OBE says that families need more support to get active if future generations are to stay fit and healthy;
“Parents lead very busy lives, but we are facing a child obesity epidemic, so it’s vital that we do all we can to give our kids the best start in life. A positive approach to healthy living starts in the home, but there’s plenty the wider community, including schools, can do to support parents and ensure a joined-up approach to family wellbeing”.
The scheme – thought to be the first of its kind anywhere in the UK – gives parents the chance to attend fitness classes at their child’s school straight after dropping them off, or just before picking them up. Participating schools are also given a 6 -12 week program to educate pupils on the importance of active, healthy lifestyles – a key part of the national curriculum’s focus on wellbeing.
Premier delivers health and wellbeing sessions to Early Years, Primary Schools and adults, emphasising the importance of a whole school/family approach to health living. The programme tackles the obstacles that can deter individuals from participating in regular exercise, and helping them make healthier nutritional choices.