Active Cumbria Host Children and Young People Conference

Head Teachers and PE Leads from across Cumbria came together this week at our Children and Young People Conference, Physical Activity and Movement – The Curriculum and Beyond!

Over 90 delegates attended the event at the North Lakes Hotel, Penrith. The aim of the conference was to:

• Understand the issues and challenges children and young people face in Cumbria, and the importance of physical and mental wellbeing.
• Understand Sport England’s approach to increasing activity amongst children and young people through their Uniting the Movement Strategy, and their recent work on Physical Literacy.
• Learn about whole school approaches to physical activity and the impact they can have on a wide range of outcomes.
• Develop practice and understanding through the provision of specific CPD opportunities.

Our keynote speakers included Joanne Moss Strategic Policy Lead for Children and Young People at Sport England, Colin Cox Director of Public Health and Communities Cumberland Council and Elaine Wyllie MBE Founder of The Daily Mile.

Delegates participated in a number of workshops delivered by Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Active Cumbria, Dance to School, Stormbreak, The FA and independent consultants to help develop practice and understanding around physical activity and movement.

They also heard from local primary schools including Yarlside Academy, Belle Vue Primary, Thursby Primary, Burton Morewood Academy and Nursery, Coniston School, Robert Ferguson Primary School, Rosley C of E School, Northside Primary School and St George’s C of E Primary School who shared best practice case studies.

Kirsty Williamson, Active Cumbria Children and Young People Development Officer for Education, said; “It was fantastic to be able to host a conference dedicated to physical activity and movement in children and young people.

“The event brought together education professionals from across the county to help understand the issues and challenges children and young people face in Cumbria, and the importance of physical and mental wellbeing.

“The day was a balance of learning, understanding and professional development through the delivery of a range of workshops to further develop practice which can be taken back to the classroom. It was a very successful and energised day.”