The Association of Play Industries (API) is urging policy
makers and head teachers to take a broad approach to tackling the physical inactivity
crisis so that children of all ages and abilities are motivated to be active
before, after and throughout the school day.
The API, the voice of the UK play sector, welcomes the key recommendations
set out in not-forprofit health body ukactive's Generation Inactive report, launched
by Baroness Tanni Grey- Thompson, but is concerned that it will encourage
policy initiatives that over-focus on school sport to the detriment of other
important, more inclusive forms of physical activity like outdoor learning and
play.
API Manager Deborah Holt says: "We wholeheartedly support
the report's recommendations for head teachers to implement a wholeschool approach
to physical activity which sees physical literacy valued as highly – and assessed
as rigorously by Ofsted - as literacy and numeracy. In fact we called for this
in our own General Election asks.
"We also support the proposed repurposing of the current
Sport Premium for schools as a Physical Activity Premium which is a logical
step to ensure children are physically active during every aspect of school
life, not just during PE lessons."
"We are concerned, however, at the implications of the recommendation
to introduce structured playtime activities. This will inevitably enforce participation
in rigid, competitive sports activities which alienate many children and may
put them off physical activity for life.
"Children also need opportunities to play freely and
spontaneously between lesson time. The physical, developmental and social
benefits of active outdoor play are well-evidenced and we believe sacrificing
play would have a negative impact on children's well-being."
The association supports ukactive's recommendations to improve
teacher training but calls to extend the scope beyond PE provision. It says
that teacher training institutions should provide high quality training on
effective ways to build physical activity of all kinds into every aspect of the
curriculum and of the school day.
