Physical Activity

‘Physical activity is any body movement that works your muscles and requires more energy than resting. Walking, running, dancing, swimming, yoga, and gardening are a few examples of physical activity.’ (NHS, 2014)

At Farsley Springbank we provide lots of opportunities for children to be physically active. Children have a good understanding, through teaching in PSHE and PE lessons, that being physically active contributes to living a healthy lifestyle. As well as taking part in PE lessons, we run a large number of after school clubs that change termly.  We try to match the after school clubs to the children's interests which encourages high participation rates.  We also encourage children to walk, scoot or cycle to school and help them to understand that this also contributes to a healthy lifestyle. We have invested in racks for the children’s bikes and scooters.  At lunchtimes the children have access to a selection of sports equipment to encourage them to be active e.g. tennis rackets, hula hoops and space hoppers. There are also Year 6 pupils (buddies) who set up games for pupils to get involved in.

After school clubs that encourage physical activity

We aim to ensure that there is an much variety as possible through our after school club offer.  Whilst some clubs are based around sport, many are based around having fun whilst being physically active.  The aim is to encourage children who may not as keen on competitive sport, to engage in physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.

We have run clubs such as yoga, Pilates, boxfit, rocky circuit, glo-stick dancing, ballet fitness and gardening which have been extremely popular with the children.

Residentials

Children in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 have the opportunity to go on a three day/two night residential.  The residentials provide the chance for the children to take part in physical activities which push the parameters of their confidence. OAA skills are the priority of all centres that we visit and the benefits of their expertise and equipment mean that all children are accessing the very best experience available to them. Whether it be through climbing, caving, canoeing, zip wire, giant swing, knight’s quest or the infamous piranha pool the Year 6s are conquering fears in a safe learning environment which paves the way for their progression into High School. Each year we see children tackling challenges that they had never thought possible and this visible confidence boost, more often than not, can be the making of that child.  

Health Week

The whole school takes part in our Health week every year.  Health week incorporates many aspects around being healthy, including looking after our emotional and mental health as well as our physical health and eating healthily.  Health week includes a variety of activities designed to encourage being physically active and promote well-being.  We always aim to be really active here at Springbank but in Health week it becomes main focus; all the children have the opportunity to take part in many additional activities which they thoroughly enjoy.  To find out more about Health week, go to page link below.