The Daily Mile is a simple, inclusive initiative that encourages children to run, jog, or walk for 15 minutes every day, aiming to improve physical health, mental wellbeing, and concentration in the classroom. Active Essex has been a proud supporter of The Daily Mile across the county, working closely with schools to embed physical activity into the school day and promote lifelong healthy habits.
Alderton Junior School in Loughton has been a strong advocate for The Daily Mile, championing it’s positive impact on pupils’ fitness, concentration, and overall wellbeing. Last month, Active Essex visited the school to relaunch the initiative. This provided an excellent opportunity to renew enthusiasm and reaffirm the school’s commitment to ensuring every child experiences the benefits and enjoyment of daily physical activity.
The relaunch was a true celebration of movement and community spirit, and Active Essex also took the opportunity to highlight it’s internal campaign, ‘Get to Know Essex’, which encourages local engagement and promotes wellbeing across the county.
The day began with a whole-school assembly where pupils were introduced to The Daily Mile and Active Essex’s ‘Get to Know Essex’ campaign. This set the tone for an exciting programme of activities, with individual Daily Mile sessions delivered for each year group from Year 3 to Year 6, ensuring every child had the chance to take part.
To keep the momentum going, pupils received a range of resources including maps, stickers, and fact sheets, along with some fantastic freebies such as a Daily Mile speaker and thermal mugs to encourage continued participation. Adding to the excitement was a special guest appearance by Bezzy, the Active Essex ‘Move With Us’ mascot, who met pupils, inspired them, and joined in the fun throughout the day.
A representative from Alderton Junior School explained:
“Our pupils love The Daily Mile! It’s a great way to break up the day, get outside, and boost their mood and concentration. We’re excited to keep this momentum going and make it part of our school culture.”
The atmosphere was lively and uplifting, with pupils smiling and encouraging one another, clearly reflecting the positive influence of physical activity on wellbeing.
Emma Alderman, Relationship Development Officer at Active Essex who leads on the campaign told us:
It was fantastic to see the energy and excitement at Alderton Junior School during the relaunch. The Daily Mile is such a simple yet powerful way to keep children active and happy, and we’re thrilled to continue supporting schools like Alderton in making this a daily habit.
There have already been encouraging discussions about how Active Essex can continue supporting Alderton Junior School in using The Daily Mile as a way to engage parents, carers, and the wider community. Future plans include hosting inclusive events that bring everyone together and strengthen the school’s active culture.
Active Essex remains committed to deepening it’s partnership with The Daily Mile and extending this support to more schools across the county. Together, we aim to embed daily physical activity as a normal part of school life, helping children throughout Greater Essex lead healthier, happier lives.
Learn more about The Daily Mile campaign here.
