Children encouraged to run a mile a day at school

Hampshire County Council, which runs schools across Fareham, Gosport, Havant, and Waterlooville, is supporting the Daily Mile programme.

The scheme was founded by a headteacher in Scotland, Elaine Wyllie, who wanted tackle the obesity and poor levels of fitness of the children in her school.

The scheme is now spreading across the UK.

The aim of The Daily Mile is simple – to get children fit by running for 15 minutes a day. The daily exercise is not timetabled.

Teachers take their classes out at a time of their choosing.

The children walk, jog or run with their classmates in the safety of their own playground.

The scheme has its own website at thedailymile.co.uk and teachers and parents are provided with the information and resources to start up the programme, including doing a risk assessment.

The website says: ‘Schools that are already involved say that they really value it. Teachers say that the children benefit from being outside in the fresh air, running with their friends. ‘It supports classroom learning and it improves the children’s confidence, concentration and behaviour.’