3/1 To Win
Derby County mascot Rammie was at Portway Junior School on Tuesday - encouraging pupils to become more physically active and engaged in school life with his Daily Mile Challenge.
The Daily Mile was originally founded in Scotland back in 2012 and has been rolled out across the country in schools and nurseries with many positive benefits to pupils including improved emotional health, physical health, concentration and social skills.
The concept is an incredibly simple yet effective one, to help children get fit by running or walking for 15 minutes a day.
In Derby, many schools have also begun to introduce the Daily Mile.
The Derby County Community Trust are keen to increase participation across primary schools with ‘Rammie’s Daily Mile Challenge’. Research has shown that even children who are reluctant to take part in PE participate happily in the Daily Mile.
Pupils from Portway Junior school have been trialling the initiative across the year as part of the Active Schools programme with the Community Trust and it has received plenty of positive feedback. Along with the health and fitness benefits, Rammie’s Daily Mile Challenge has also encouraged pupils from across age groups to begin to socialise, improve productivity and most of all, they have started to enjoy being active.
Following the launch, Carol Briggs from Portway Junior School Said: “Rammie’s Daily Mile Challenge provides us with the chance to get the pupils out for some fresh air and activity during school time.
“The exercise has definitely improved concentration, fitness and it also gives them the chance to socialise amongst classes which influences social skills.
“There’s no skill element involved like there would be in say football or other sports. They can run it or walk it, the simplicity allows those children who don’t necessarily enjoy PE to get active in an environment that they are comfortable with.”
Arwen Green from Derby County Community Trust said: “The Community Trust got involved with the Daily Mile because it can have a great impact on activity levels in schools in a very short period of time.
“One of the things that appeals to us is that it benefits the whole school, with different classes taking part at the same time and even the teachers. It’s a great way for the school to come together, get some oxygen into their brains, feel fitter and more active and use it as a session to encourage pupils to socialise with each other.”
She added: “There is research that shows that it can positively affect pupils when they go back into the classroom as well with SATS results improving in certain schools.
“We’re launching Rammie’s Daily Mile Challenge across Derby schools. We are hoping more schools will see the benefits and we can begin to roll it out across the city.”
Following the launch, the Derby County Community Trust will work alongside Derby City SSP to support schools across the city with resources and advice to get more active.
You can get started by downloading the Rammie’s Daily Mile Challenge resources at derbycountycommunitytrust.com - or for more information email [email protected].
