Tenth National School Sport Week commences

The tenth National School Sport Week by the Youth Sport Trust’s (YST) kicks off this week (25-9 June) and focuses on the role of play and sport in education. The Youth Sports Trust hopes to reach as many people as possible and hook children and young people on a lifelong love of movement.

Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of Youth Sport Trust, said: “This year we are celebrating the role of play and sport in education to mark a decade of National School Sport Week. Taking part in PE and school sport translates to so many lifelong benefits for our health and wellbeing, so it’s time we got children excited about sport and play.

“We want our 10th year of National School Sport Week to reach as many children and young people as possible and create a step change in attitudes towards PE and school sport. By working with a number of key partners including the BBC’s and Premier League’s initiative Super Movers, FA, and Entertainment One’s (eOne) PJ Masks, we hope to educate the UK about the importance of being active and why PE and school sport teaches us so much more than mastery of sport.”

The charity pioneers new ways of using sport to improve children’s wellbeing and give them a brighter future. It is campaigning for the benefits of being active to be widely recognised in battling declining mental wellbeing and obesity in this and future generations.

As well as its main partners of the week, the charity has also been supported by the Jo Cox Foundation through the Great Get Together, Greenhouse Sports and Votes for Schools, which will see hundreds of schools holding class discussions about how skills learnt in PE help pupils in other areas of their lives.

Highlights of this year’s National School Sport Week include:

Monday (25 June): Official partners, Premier League and BBC, through Super Movers will be engaging over 100 UK primary schools through a Mascot Monday to raise awareness about the importance of an active school day.

Tuesday (26 June): YST will be getting nursery and early years children excited about sport and play through its partnership with Entertainment One (eOne) and its popular animated children’s property PJ Masks. The partnership has developed a digital Super Moon themed activity pack and planning guide which includes a range of fun ideas, guidance, certificates and downloadable materials to increase engagement and maximise impact on children. eOne is also offering free at home activity packs to the first 500 nurseries and schools to register.

Wednesday (27 June): YST’s youth board, headteachers from its member schools, YST ambassadors and England Roses netball star Eboni Beckford-Chambers will be among those talking to MPs at the House of Commons about the value of sport and play, at a YST Parliamentary Reception, being hosted by the Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP.

Thursday (28 June): Encouraging women and girls’ participation in football through its work with the FA and the Game of Our Own programme. The Football Association has resources available to download across all age groups.

Friday (29 June): Announcement of the charity’s winner for its NSSW social media competition will be decided for an inspirational athlete mentor to visit the winning school. Data to be released by YST and Votes for Schools on young people’s views on what they learn in PE.

For more information about the week visit www.youthsporttrust.org/national-school-sport-week Live action can be followed across social media using #NSSW.