Waterford Sports Partnership would like to invite schools to take part in a free and simple initiative to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of primary-aged children (3-11 years).
The Daily Mile is an initiative which was started by Elaine Wyllie, when she was Head teacher of a Large Scottish Primary School in 2012. Elaine noticed that the children in her school lacked fitness: when asked to run around the school pitch, most were exhausted before they reached halfway. The children were keen to improve their fitness, and it was agreed they could spend 15 minutes each day in school walking, jogging or running round the path. Within one month the children were averaging 5 laps of the path, which, when measured, turned out to be a mile – so The Daily Mile was born. Since then the initiative has been introduced into over 1,750 schools in the UK, over 540 in Belgium, and over 100 in the Netherlands.
The Daily Mile is very simple to start in a school. Without wasting time to change into kit, every child in the school goes out each day in the fresh air to run, jog or walk at their own pace for 15 minutes. It is not competitive and most children average a mile, with some doing more and some doing less, although all children should be encouraged to run over time. It is not PE, sport or crosscountry but a physical activity which is aimed at improving the children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. It can help children to focus and concentrate in the classroom and raise their attainment.
If you are interested in starting The Daily Mile in your school or with one of the classes in your school initially please register your interest by completing this online
Expression of Interest Form
Brian O’Neil on 086 020 1219 or email boneill@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
For further details on The Daily Mile please visit the website http://www.thedailymile.co.uk
Article Modified: January 13, 2021 9:45 am
