Mrs C Mason St Martin’s Primary School

Headteacher Route des Coutures

St Martin

GUERNSEY

Telephone: (01481) 756060 GY4 6HN

Email: office@stmartins.sch.gg

Website: www.stmartins-sch.gg

Dear Parent/Carer,

You will probably be aware of recent concerns around physical inactivity and childhood obesity. As they go through primary school, many children put on weight and, across the UK, around 35% of pupils in their final year of primary are categorised as overweight or obese.

Experts have described this as an epidemic and a crisis that must be tackled before it is too late.

However, there is an initiative called The Daily Mile which started in February 2012 by Elaine Wyllie, who was then a headteacher in Scotland. She was concerned by children’s lack of fitness and went on to prove The Daily Mile to be both sustainable and effective in improving activity levels and obesity in school.

The Daily Mile is very simple to start in schools. Without wasting time to change into kit, children go out into the fresh air to run, jog or walk for 15 minutes. It is not competitive: most children will average a mile in that time, with some doing more and some doing less. It is not PE, sport or cross-country but a physical activity which is aimed at improving children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health and well being. It can also help children to focus and concentrate in the classroom and raise their attainment.

Since 2015, The Daily Mile has been adopted by over 1,600 schools in the UK and interest from Belgium and the Netherlands has been expressed.

Therefore, we would like to introduce The Daily Mile, and it’s health and well being benefits, for the children in Year 2 at St Martin’s. We intend to run 3 mornings per week at 9.15 am. Children can come to school in their trainers and change into their school shoes after their run. They are able to run in normal shoes as well.

The days your child will run are as follows –

Mrs Ash’s Class – Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Mrs Ashworth’s Class – Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Mrs Page’s Class – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

As a school we are really excited about this new initiative and we are looking forward to the benefits it will bring to your child/children. To find out more we strongly recommend you visit the website: www.thedailymile.co.uk.

We look forward to reaping the benefits of this initiative and please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

The Year 2 team