Improving Pupils’ Wellbeing With Physical Activity

The Importance of wellbeing

You may have noticed that this year’s Ofsted guidelines put even more of a focus on pupils’ wellbeing than before. That’s partly because of worrying statistics, which show that mental health issues in children have been on the rise in recent years. In response to this, there is increased pressure on schools to help their pupils improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Fortunately, there are many ways in which schools can achieve this – most of which your school is likely already doing. One of the most direct, measurable and often overlooked ways to improve pupil’s mental health is by increasing engagement in physical activity amongst pupils.

UK Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines say that children should aim for at least 60 minutes of activity a day, with 30 minutes being provided by the school. After all, it is now widely accepted that sports and physical activities boost the physical and mental health of everybody who takes part.

It’s likely that you’re already offering an excellent level of physical activity in your school. If you’re looking for ways to improve your provision, we’ve gathered some tips below, including some of the ways in which Premier Education can help.

Work with what you’ve got

Make the most of your equipment and facilities – these can make activities so much more fun and rewarding for your pupils. If you’re limited, then external coaches will be of huge help. For example, Premier Education coaches will often supply their own sport-specific equipment and can adapt their sessions to the facilities you have.

Prioritise enrichment

Holding before-school sessions is a great way to give pupils a positive start to the day. Gentler sports, like Table Tennis and Fencing are great choices – they’re engaging without being tiring. After-school sessions give pupils a chance to burn off any extra energy they might have whilst giving parents a more convenient time to collect their children.

Offer choice

By diversifying the activities available to your pupils, you will engage many more than ever before – including those who have historically been reluctant to join in. The main reason more schools don’t do this is because each sport needs its own training, which can eat into valuable resources. Instead, it’s often most cost effective to bring in external coaches, who are trained in dozens of different sports.

Build confidence

A well-trained coach offers more than just sports skills. Premier Education coaches create sessions which promote friendship, teamwork and communication. These skills can give pupils more respect for their peers and themselves, creating a more positive culture and improving confidence for each pupil.

To find out how Premier Education can help your school meet its targets, fill out a contact form today and your local representative will be in touch shortly.