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24/01/2007
Pedometers for schools in deprived areas
Children in schools in deprived areas are to be given pedometers as part of a government project to motivate children to become fitter.
The £494,000 National School Pedometer Programme, which is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Youth Sport Trust, will see 250 schools in deprived areas across the country receive 45,0000 pedometers.
The move comes after a successful pilot pedometer scheme 'Schools on the Move' that was trialed in 50 schools. The government said that the scheme showed encouraging increases in children’s' activity levels.
In the programme, pedometers will be used in schools as a tool to support a wide range of curriculum topics and to increase awareness among pupils of the need to be active.
Children will be able to chart their pedometer progress by logging onto a dedicated website that will help them set step targets.
Teachers will be trained in how to use the programme within the curriculum.
Increasing activity levels can help prevent serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
It is recommended that young people should achieve a total of at least 60 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per day. However, the government said that 30% of boys and 40% of girls were not achieving the recommended physical activity levels.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Pedometers help to show that you don't need to join a gym or start running marathons to improve your fitness levels - simple things like going out for a walk or taking the stairs instead of a lift can all help to improve your overall physical well-being.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise and pedometers can make it more fun for children. Pedometers can be especially effective in encouraging young people to be active out of school hours and at weekends."
However, the Liberal Democrats have dismissed the move as a "gimmick". The party's health spokesperson Norman Lamb said: "This scheme risks merely measuring how little exercise some pupils do without helping young people to lead healthier lifestyles.
"Labour is tinkering round the edges of the problem of childhood obesity. Unless fundamental action is taken now, we will have an entire generation facing type two diabetes, heart disease and premature death."
(KMcA)
The £494,000 National School Pedometer Programme, which is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Youth Sport Trust, will see 250 schools in deprived areas across the country receive 45,0000 pedometers.
The move comes after a successful pilot pedometer scheme 'Schools on the Move' that was trialed in 50 schools. The government said that the scheme showed encouraging increases in children’s' activity levels.
In the programme, pedometers will be used in schools as a tool to support a wide range of curriculum topics and to increase awareness among pupils of the need to be active.
Children will be able to chart their pedometer progress by logging onto a dedicated website that will help them set step targets.
Teachers will be trained in how to use the programme within the curriculum.
Increasing activity levels can help prevent serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
It is recommended that young people should achieve a total of at least 60 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per day. However, the government said that 30% of boys and 40% of girls were not achieving the recommended physical activity levels.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Pedometers help to show that you don't need to join a gym or start running marathons to improve your fitness levels - simple things like going out for a walk or taking the stairs instead of a lift can all help to improve your overall physical well-being.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise and pedometers can make it more fun for children. Pedometers can be especially effective in encouraging young people to be active out of school hours and at weekends."
However, the Liberal Democrats have dismissed the move as a "gimmick". The party's health spokesperson Norman Lamb said: "This scheme risks merely measuring how little exercise some pupils do without helping young people to lead healthier lifestyles.
"Labour is tinkering round the edges of the problem of childhood obesity. Unless fundamental action is taken now, we will have an entire generation facing type two diabetes, heart disease and premature death."
(KMcA)
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