National School Sports Week is a great reminder that the fundamentals for lifelong health, wellbeing and confidence are built in childhood.
The latest Active Lives data shows a steady rise in activity levels, with 51.7% of children in Greater Essex being currently active. More schools have embraced whole‑school approaches to movement. But it also reveals a familiar truth: not every child has the same chance to be active. National School Sports Week gives us the perfect moment to celebrate the progress we’re making and to recognise the children who still need us to push harder.
We’re celebrating the power of movement and reflecting on the impact being made across Essex. We’re seeing positive progress in helping children and young people develop a positive relationship with physical activity through PE, school sport and initiatives like MoveWithUs, where youth voice helps shape our decisions and programmes. Through Essex ActivAte, children and families have been able to access holiday activities alongside nutritious food provision helping to tackle holiday inactivity and inequalities.
The progress we’re seeing is being driven by a combination of targeted investment, community leadership and strong partnerships.
- Over 130 schools taking part in The Daily Mile, supporting concentration, wellbeing and activity levels.
- Growth in girls’ participation through Barclays Girls Football in Schools.
- More than 2,500 young leaders developed through School Games opportunities.
- Essex ActivAte continuing to support children and families through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme
- Active Essex Foundation programmes using the power of sport and physical activity to support young people experiencing poor mental health, vulnerability to exploitation or involvement in youth crime. By working with locally trusted organisation across Greater Essex, these programmes provide safe spaces, support networks and opportunities for young people to build connections, life skills, confidence and much more!
Some children still face greater barriers to being active than others, particularly girls, young people with SEND, children eligible for free school meals. These challenges can have a lasting impact on health, wellbeing and future opportunities. That’s why supporting children and young people is one of the four key outcomes within the Active Essex Fit for the Future strategy, helping to ensure young people have positive attitudes towards physical activity and sport.
While there is much to celebrate, we’re not there yet.
Activity levels remain too low for many children and young people and inequalities persist. Schools continue to face pressures around capacity and resources, while demand remains high for support around mental health, SEND inclusion and youth crime prevention. We also need to ensure consistent pathways for girls to participate and lead, and continue embedding whole-school approaches to physical activity rather than relying on isolated projects or interventions.
This National School Sports Week, we’re encouraging schools, partners and communities across Essex to celebrate movement, be inclusive and continue listening to young people.
Together, we can help close the inequality gap and ensure every child has the opportunity to be active, confident, resilient and supported.
