Xplore is a Family Lifestyle Programme aimed at helping children and young people who are over the healthy weight range and between the ages of 4 and 13 to move more, eat well and feel good. This free 8 week programme supports families to make sustained lifestyle and dietary changes. For more information and to book on, please contact Xplore.Barnet@gll.org

The UK Chief Medical Officers have released the first ever guidance on physical activity for children and young people with disabilities aged 2-17 years. There is an:

• Evidence review - Findings of the health benefits and potential risks of physical activity for children and young people who have disabilities.
• and an infographic, to summarise the results.

Brain breaks are mental and physical activities to break up a period of concentration. They may be particular useful after spending long periods sitting or using technology. The brain break may be relaxing or energizing, but they are always intended to get the body and mind going and help children focus once they return to normal classroom activities.

This resource from Anna Freud is designed for:

• children of all ages
• use with a whole class

Depending of the age of the children, the brain breaks could be used every hour or less for around five minutes. Try to use a variety, and fit them well to the mood and situation. For example, you should choose an active brain break if the previous activity is sedentary, or a maths-related one if you have been studying a different topic.

To download the resource click here

Exciting research is taking place for the local school-based physical activity initiative, called the 'Golden Kilometre'. The research is being conducted as part of a PhD study to understand how the Golden Kilometre can improve children's physical literacy and fitness levels.

Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life; the more physical literate a child is, the more likely they will participate in sport and physical activity into adulthood.

A systematic review is currently underway and qualitative and quantitative research is scheduled to begin in a few weeks.

If you would like to know more about the research and/or you run the Golden Kilometre at your school and would like to take part, please contact the lead researcher Shannah Anico Email: S.Anico@mdx.ac.uk.

The PSHE Association is excited about launching a suite of KS1-4 Health Education lesson plans, slides, resources and teacher guidance for Association members in September covering food choices, physical activity & balanced lifestyles.

In the meantime, their new mapping guidance will give you an overview of what the materials cover and allow you to plan this content into your schemes of work for the new school year.

The lessons will address all aspects of healthy food choices and physical activity included in the PSHE Education Programme of Study and the Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance for Relationships Education/ Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE).

Areas covered include how to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle through food choices and physical activity, as well as potential barriers people might face. The materials will equip pupils with the skills to manage social influence and pressure, and the knowledge, understanding, attributes, and strategies to make positive choices that keep them healthy.

Click here to Download the PSHE Association Mapping Guidance 

Tables in the guidance map lesson content against the relevant learning opportunities from the Programme of Study’s core themes at each key stage and identify where content from the statutory RHE/RSHE guidance is addressed through the lessons.