Horsford: Children's charity fitness day

Sam EmanuelWhile children across the country might be getting fatter, one Norfolk school is ensuring it bucks the trend with a charity fitness day involving both staff and pupils.Sam Emanuel

While children across the country might be getting fatter, one Norfolk school is ensuring it bucks the trend with a charity fitness day involving both staff and pupils.

Horsford Infant School held the special event, which involved speed stacking, step aerobics, a danceathon, tennis, multi-skills and yoga, in aid of Sport Relief, a Comic Relief initiative to raise money for disadvantaged people in the UK and the world's poorest countries.

All the staff at the 150 pupil school got involved and ran various sports activities, ahead of a whole week of health-related events later this year.

The children were each asked to bring in a 50p donation to take part in the event, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Amy Pengilley, event co-ordinator, said: 'Nationally, more and more children are becoming obese and are not participating in enough physical activity. Sports relief is a fantastic opportunity to discuss the idea of health and well-being with the children - we will be learning about children who are less fortunate than ourselves but also the importance of keeping fit and healthy ourselves.

'As a school, it is really important for us to ensure that all children have access to sports and fitness activities so we regularly run free after school and lunchtime clubs so that everyone can come along and join in.'

Some of the Year 2 children at the school have recently been given leadership training, and as well as running their own lunchtime club and leading playground games for the younger children, the young leaders also helped out some of the teaching staff on the day.

Is your school holding a special event? Call Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.