Sports clubs
A programme of after-school clubs to encourage primary school children to play more sport is being launched.
The government has put £1 million into the Youth Sport Trust scheme, aimed at improving basic skills, such as throwing, catching and balance.
It is hoped 800 clubs will be running across Britain by the end of next year.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over pupils' health. The childhood obesity rate rose from 9.6 per cent in 1995 to more than 15 per cent in 2002.
Stakeholder Response: British Sports Trust
A spokesman for the British Sports Trust said: "Twenty years ago, an average school with four PE teachers might run four after school sports clubs. In schools where the Sports Leader Awards are well established, we now have four PE teachers supervising up to twenty after school clubs, run by sports leaders.
"Since 1982, the Sports Leader Awards have encouraged young more sports activity among schoolchildren by creating a raft of trained and motivated sports organisers. The Awards develop in young people the skills and the confidence required to organise sports activities for others. These include teaching them to take on responsibility - how to lead teams, communicate, organise and motivate others.
"Over the last 22 years the scheme has grown steadily. Now within the National Qualifications Framework, the original one Award has grown to four, and additional awards are now under development.Last year over 80,000 people throughout the
Stakeholder Response: British Swimming Pool Federation
Allen Brobyn, managing director of the British Swimming Pool Federation, said: "Swimming for primary school children is an enjoyable way of keeping fit and reducing obesity for those children who do not show a talent for other sports. In addition, it is a vital life skill and is a requirement of the National Curriculum for all pupils. Unfortunately, ready access to convenient and modern swimming facilities is very limited for many children, and we would like to see some of the government's money going towards developing more dedicated facilities for primary school swimming."
Stakeholder Response: Sector Skills Development Agency
A spokesperson for SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, said: "After school clubs should not just be seen as homework clubs nor should they simply become an arbitrary extension of the normal school day.
"SkillsActive members would urge the government to ensure that its vision of extended schools creates opportunities for children and young people to play and engage in recreation and physical activity in their free time.
"The physical, mental and intellectual benefits of play and recreation to young people are enormous, one only has to read the Education and Skills Select Committee’s report into outdoor education, published today, to realise how valuable such learning experiences are.
"SkillsActive is an employer-led organisation that develops the National Occupational Standards for the Active Leisure and Learning Sector and continues to work with the sector to ensure that enough skilled people exist to deliver safe and properly supervised recreation and learning opportunities for all."
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