Learning South Leicestershire SSP offers a range of targeted opportunities to engage less active young people in sustained physical activity and to develop healthy lifestyles.

Girls Active Lifestyles

The Girls Active Lifestyles project targets girls ages 9 – 16 and aims to improve confidence, self esteem and levels of participation in physical activity. Each secondary school delivers 12 weeks of fitness activities with targeted girls like Zumba, yoga and cheerleading. All schools come together for a day of fitness activities..

Primary schools are invited to take part in a GALs Mini Project, offering 6 weeks of fitness based activities to Key Stage 2 girls at their schools, and a free morning of fitness based activities at various community venues across South Leicestershire.

Monitoring of changes in participation in physical activity and attitudes towards healthy lifestyles takes place at the start and finish of each project.

Girls are encouraged to take part in sustained regular physical activity inside and outside of school.

“The GALs project has enabled girls who wouldn’t normally get involved in physical activity to feel a bit special, and to gain confidence in their own space and time, doing activities they have chosen. We have seen a promising improvement in their attitudes and levels of participation since taking part in the project” PE Teacher Wigston Academy

ENERGY Clubs

The project engages targeted children in Key Stage 2 to encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity as well as a greater understanding of the importance of diet and nutrition.

Schools receive 12 weeks of support from a Healthy Lifestyle Coach employed by Learning South Leicestershire School Sports Partnership. ENERGY Clubs are delivered for 1 hour per week for selected children – approx 15 children per school. Activities take place both out of school hours and during curriculum time.

An ENERGY Clubs resource was developed in conjunction with Leicester City School Sports Partnership and Leicestershire Nutrition & Diet Service, including a range of physical activity and nutrition based challenges for children to take part in both at school and at home. Nutrition activities including a ‘cook & eat’ session are included as well as a final celebration event, and parents are invited to get involved.

Changes in levels of participation in physical activity and attitudes towards healthy lifestyles are monitored at the start and end of the project and young people are signposted into sustained physical activity in the local community.

Children can also attend ENERGY Club holiday activities and evening Community ENERGY Clubs across South Leicestershire.

Croft C of E Primary School

“A popular club that has had effects (confidence and increased participation in exercise) on the children and we want to continue the good work”

Big Moves

The BIG MOVES Developmental Movement Intervention Programme has been created to help children in mainstream school improve their physical development and has impacts on wider school life, including developing listening and concentration, learning success and appropriate behaviour.

Developed over a six year period in a Leicestershire school, this programme is based on how the brain develops in early childhood and the foundation sensory and motor skills that every child needs to succeed in school and life. It explains the BIG MOVES every child has to experience in childhood before they can move on to using the small moves of the eyes and fingers for learning in the classroom.

Improvements noted from using BIG MOVES! include:

• Significantly raised value added scores in KS1
• Better listening and concentration
• Improved ability to follow instructions.
• Better posture, no longer slumping in the chair.
• More imagination & creativity
• Improved ability to sit still and less fidgeting
• More determination and ability to persevere.
• Less complaining of tiredness
• Improved pencil grip
• Improved handwriting
• Improved tool use, including safe use of scissors.
• Raised independence, including in writing
• Greater confidence
• Better vocabulary about their own bodies
• ‘Self Organising’

In South Leicestershire, Big Moves has been delivered in more than 50 schools over the past 4 years, with around 10 targeted children in each school, based on movement assessment results. A parent resource is provided.  A range of outcomes are measures, including impact on fine and gross motor skill development, self care, concentration and listening, academic success & social skills.

“Big Moves programme was very successful, results seen quickly. We will carry on the programme next year.” 
The Pastures Primary

“Really works. Couldn’t believe results in final movement assessment- huge improvement for some.”
Market Harborough CE Primary

“Extremely useful programme. We have passed information to the pre-school who have used some of the exercises with younger children.”
Croft Primary

LADS – Live Active, Do Something

The LADs project targets boys ages 11 – 16 and aims to improve confidence, self esteem and levels of participation in physical activity. Each secondary school delivers 6 weeks of non traditional physical activities with targeted boys, such as dodgeball, street dance, fencing and archery. All schools come together for a day of alternative physical activities.

Monitoring of changes in participation in physical activity and attitudes towards healthy lifestyles takes place at the start and finish of each project.

Boys are encouraged to take part in sustained regular physical activity inside and outside of school.