Earlier this month the Active Essex Children & Young People Team visited Wentworth Primary school to launch the latest Daily Mile challenge: ‘Laps to Lapland’
The Daily Mile is a simple and free activity that encourages social physical activity, through children running, wheeling or walking at their own pace in the fresh air for 15 minutes a day. With little equipment and organisation needed, The Daily Mile is inclusive to all. In a recent survey, many Essex School teachers found the engagement in The Daily Mile have resulted in:
- Students feeling more relaxed and calmer in lesson
- A more positive attitude towards physical activity amongst peers
- Fitness levels increasing
- Improved concentration levels from pupils during class
The full survey report can be read here: Daily Mile Report
As part of the programme, Active Essex and The Daily Mile run termly challenges to motivate students to get active. This term see’s the adventure of Laps To Lapland visiting schools in the lead up to the festive holidays. Schools are challenged to help Santa’s reindeer get back to Lapland to pull the sleigh in time for Christmas Eve. Doing The Daily Mile will help them fly back home – every time a school complete one, they add it to the map and see their journey unfold. Will they get back in time to deliver Santa’s presents?
To launch the campaign, Active Essex visited Wentworth Primary School to explain the latest challenge. Through hosting a school assembly, the Children & Young People team at Active Essex invited pupils of Wentworth Primary to the discuss impact and benefits of undergoing physical activity and The Daily Mile. One pupil said:
“I like doing The Daily Mile as it gets me outside in the fresh air which helps me feel energised when I get back into the classroom”
Another pupil stated:
“Doing exercise like The Daily Mile can be good for our mind and mental health, along with staying healthy. I am excited to be doing the Laps to Lapland challenge this term”.
As part of the visit, pupils were able to join in with a group work out to experience and explain the impact physical activity has on the body. Through undergoing activities such as stretching, jogging and sprinting, the students of Wentworth Primary were able to list the benefits of physical activity in preparation of the Laps to Lapland challenge. The pupils also witnessed videos and a “Guess the Location Quiz” to enhance enthusiasm. To encourage further motivation, Miss Willmott will be “hosting a Daily Mile challenge between each year groups as part of a race to see who will get back in time first to help Santa deliver the presents. Through having a school leaderboard, we have found this creates excitement amongst classes that results in them asking our teachers if they can go and do The Daily Mile so they can get higher in the leaderboard”.
The Laps to Lapland campaign is now live with many schools already engaging in the challenge. To find out more about The Daily Mile within Essex and to receive your free Laps to Lapland resources, please visit our website: The Daily Mile | Active Essex
Your school will receive FREE resources, including; Laps to Lapland Maps, counters and instructions. All schools that complete their Laps to Lapland Map will receive an achievement certificate!
Please be sure to tag our social media pages so we can see you taking part to be in with the chance to receive a prize!
Facebook: @ActiveEssex
X (Twitter): @ActiveEssex
Instagram: @findyouractive
We look forward to hearing how your schools get on!
