Schools from across the area came together for the PNE PL Stars Skills Competition at the PNE Community Training Centre.
The event saw over 30 schools take part with 180 school children under the age of nine tackling physical activities seeing them test and improve various fundamental movement skills.
Instructing and organising each schools team saw 40 teachers in attendance - who were not only there to steward their school children but were also able to upskill their own teaching knowledge by taking in the various activities that children had taken part in and using them for their own PE lessons.
One of those 40 teachers was Queen's Drive Deputy Headteacher Michael Aspinall who spoke highly of the influence Preston North End have in their school, with Queen's Drive buying into PNE's Premier League Primary Stars programme.
"We've been heavily involved with PNE for many years now but last summer saw us sign up to their Primary Stars programme. I would definitely recommend other schools getting involved in this initiative whether it's for year one children or right up to year six it's been a success.
"We have PNE coaches coming into our school on a regular basis working with children throughout the school. At the moment they've been working with our year two children at a multi skills event with a big focus on CPD for the staff. It's been fantastic and the support from Preston North End has been fantastic so long may it continue."
Alongside the CPD, the teachers have noticed a big change in their level of skills when delivering PE sessions. The lesson plan structure of the coaches from PNE has always been fantastic and they've been leaving those or giving copies to the teachers so that they can use them for future sessions - the confidence levels have risen massively within the teaching staff so that they are now more comfortable to deliver their own after school clubs."
The skills competition saw two different categories with small schools given their own category of competition ensuring an even playing field. Whilst Broughton Primary, Sherwood and Queen's Drive Primary School were in the top three slots, the small school category saw St Mary and St Andrew's Primary School as winners with Ingol Community Primary and Brabins Endowed Primary School finishing just behind them in second and third place.
However, the focus of the afternoon was the enjoyment rather than the winners with children enjoying the various physical challenges put on by the PNE Community and Education Trust.
School children Alexandra and Will, from winners Broughton Primary School took a quick break from the action to tell the matchday programme their thoughts on hosted tournaments such as this.
"We've been doing shuttle runs, bean bag throwing, catching - all sorts. It's good to compete and try your best," said Will.
His team-mate, Alexandra added: "I like stuff like this because I'm good at it and I like competing against other people. I like going to tournaments like this one because it's a good experience to have."
To find out more about PNE's Primary Stars programme, call 01772 693309 or email Harriet@pne.com.
You can find a gallery of the day below, or you can watch the opinions of the participants who took part in the day via the video above this article.
