Preston North End Community and Education Trust has been delivering fitness sessions at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary school to improve children’s fitness after their return to school, following a period of online learning for pupils during the Coronavirus lockdown at the start of the year.
The sessions have been delivered as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme, through which PNECET delivers sessions to primary schools across Preston combining cross-curricular learning in children’s PE lessons with the power and appeal of Preston North End to inspire children.
The Primary Stars programme is delivered in primary schools across Preston, promoting key messages around healthy and active lifestyles and sessions. This is done to improve the fitness of the children as well as better their wellbeing which will help create a more optimistic future for the younger generation around the area of Preston.
The programme has supported children to improve their fitness by setting out a variety of enjoyable physical activities as part of a number of weekly sessions, including high-intensity fitness activities to improve children’s wellbeing, having given them the opportunity to exercise upon their return to school, following the lockdown period.
One pupil, Azeeno, said the sessions have helped him to become more active.
He said: “I enjoy it because I'm a great supporter of the team. When we were in lockdown I didn’t do much exercise and this has got me active and has made me fitter”
Meanwhile, class-mate Derona added: “I’ve really liked how supportive and encouraging the staff have been. It helped our muscles grow and develop, meaning we can enjoy ourselves whilst doing more.”
St Joseph’s Deputy Headteacher Martin Gaughan felt pupils’ fitness improved through the programme, and also recognised how greatly the young people enjoyed having the opportunity to exercise within the sessions.
He said: “It’s made a major difference to pupils’ fitness because it is an extra layer on top of PE. We wanted a programme in which children could recognise their own improvements, so they had a baseline to start with, but as they do the sessions each week they can almost record the benefits and the increase in their fitness, seeing they’re getting fitter and stronger as the weeks go by.
“We wanted the PNE team to come in and use their expertise by focusing on their fitness but doing different activities each time. You can see the children get excited when we get the external visitors in, it inspires them. They know PNE are just down the road so they really respond to that.
“We can see the children are getting fitter and they’ve noticed themselves. They have said themselves how pleased they’re with it and how much they look forward to [PNECET Schools Provision Coordinator] Jack and the PNE team coming in.
“From St Joseph’s, we’d like to say a big thanks PNECET for making a big difference for the children.”
To find out more about our primary schools provision, contact us on 01772 693309 or email jack.mountain@pne.com.