The Get Active Primary School Challenge has been launched by Newport Live Sports & Physical Activity Development Team to help improve children’s fitness levels following the coronavirus lockdowns. 

The Get Active Primary School Challenge will see Newport Live Sports & Physical Activity Development team work with primary school teachers in Newport and the surrounding areas during the academic year 2020/21 to help keep children happy and healthy.

The challenge invites schools to partake in a series of fun physical challenges starting in November 2020 with ‘Reach For The Stars’, a star jump challenge based on the number of seats in Newport sporting venues. Challenges are set at the start of each month and are suitable for all year groups and abilities. There are eight challenges in total with the final challenge taking place in June 2021. All schools who partake in either one or all eight challenges will be entered in a prize draw to win a sports bag of equipment with three winners being drawn in July 2021.

The challenge has been launched following the coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing measures which have taken their toll on children's physical activity, with 35% of under 16s doing less exercise than before according to a survey by Sport Wales conducted in June. 

Chloe Powton, Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer for Newport Live, said “With the current climate being challenging and a high percentage of children’s fitness levels decreasing we have decided to set the children and teachers within the Newport Primary schools a fun physical activity challenge to complete each month. The challenges are suitable for all year groups and abilities, each year group has a different level of the challenge to complete to ensure all children are engaged at the right level.”

Newport Live Sport & Physical Activity Development team delivers sporting opportunities for children, families, schools, communities, sports clubs, and local groups across Newport. They strive to make a difference in the local communities and to get more people hooked on sport for life. The team are held in high regard locally, regionally, and nationally by partners such as Sport Wales and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, winning awards and being recognised for its innovation and good practice. 

To find out further information and to sign up your school to the Get Active Primary School Challenge visit the Newport Live website or see Newport Live Sports & Physical Activity Development Team page facebook.com/NLSportsDevelopment and at @nlsportsdev on Twitter.