Why is school sport investment so important - Nova Sport Ltd.

1. Why is school sport investment so important? Children today face a wide range of challenges – and one that is generating a lot of headlines at the moment is childhood obesity. In fact, the World Health Organisation has said that childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of our time. And the statistics support that this is potentially a problem – according to the figures, 19% of children aged 10-11 are classed as obese and 14% fall into the overweight category. So, what can be done to make a difference? A healthy diet is a great starting point Research has also highlighted how many children don’t eat the recommended amount of fruit and veg every day. So, diets are lacking in nutrients and, at the same time, children are eating more salt, fat and sugar than has ever been the case. A balanced diet – with a reduction in the number of unhealthy snacks – is a vital part of the process of reducing the obesity problem. But it’s not the only essential element. Activity really matters too

2. One reason for the rise in childhood obesity is the fact that more children today lead a much more sedentary lifestyle than was the case for previous generations. In 1995 children spent around three hours a day on activities like watching TV or playing video games –today it’s six hours a day. More activity is not just vital for helping to reduce problems around weight in childhood but also to raise a cohort of healthy, happy adults who are living an active lifestyle. School sport investment has a key role to play in this Providing spaces where children can get active and engage with a range of different spots is crucial, especially if there are not many other opportunities for kids to do this. In fact, sports investment is so important that the Department of Education and Ofsted have now placed greater emphasis on this and ensured that funding is being ring fenced for it. Plus, sports provision is increasingly becoming a factor in the way that prospective parents make decisions about schools. Why is school sport investment so important? There are the obvious benefits to physical health in providing engaging spaces where children can play and move. However, that’s not where the advantages end. According to the National PE, School Sport and Physical Activity survey, carried out by the Youth Sport Trust, sport and PE provision makes other positive contributions. This includes contributing to life skills like confidence and resilience, as well as resourcefulness, teamwork and communication. It can also make a difference to something like truancy and even how much kids are able to achieve. Another piece of research that was commissioned by Ofsted found that school sport investment could lead to improved mental health, better classroom behaviour and a longer attention span. School sport investment is vital to help our society overcome the obesity epidemic and raise a healthier generation of kids. It also has the potential to be a positive influence in many other ways. Please visit: https://www.novasport.co.uk/why-is-school-sport-investment-so-important/