The government needs to give parents a helping hand in providing children the exercise they need during the lockdown half-term, the UK’s leisure industry body has said, after guidance on reintroducing sports clubs failed to materialise.
With most schools across England set to break up in 10 days’ time, a period without traditional learning for many children will be followed by one without recourse to sports clubs or activities, as research continues to show a decline in physical activity among the young.
Ukactive, which represents the British leisure sector, has been calling for government to provide a “recovery plan” for ensuring physical activity can be safely reintroduced into schools both during term time and holidays. This follows Boris Johnson claiming he was “hopeful” schools could reopen in England from 8 March.
But with guidance yet to be published, it is now thought too late to safely operate clubs this February half-term. Now Ukactive is calling for guidance for parents on how best to make use of open spaces like parks and gardens.
“Physical activity is vital for children’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing, particularly at this time, so we must ensure they are encouraged to keep playing and moving”, said Jack Shakespeare, Ukactive’s director of children, young people, families and research.
“Children have as much right to exercise outside each day as adults, but they exercise in very different ways to adults. The government must ensure all children have access to safe public spaces for play, such as parks and gardens, and that parents and carers feel confident they can do this safely.
“It is particularly important that vulnerable children and young people, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are supported to be physically active so that our health inequalities do not deepen further.”
A call for greater clarity was echoed by the charity the Youth Sports Trust, whose chief executive, Ali Oliver, said guidance must be forthcoming soon. “It is vital that clear guidance is provided around the safe provision of daily physical activity, physical education and after-school sport over the next few weeks so school leaders and teachers know this is an important priority, and can feel confident in their delivery on reopening,” she said.
“Sadly, we know that some schools felt they had no choice but to reduce provision of PE and after school sport when they returned in September due to a lack of clarity around what they could and couldn’t do. This cannot happen again.”
A recent study by Sport England into the effect of the pandemic on activity among young people saw a fall in the number of children completing a recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day in 2020 from 53.4% to 51.1%. But while children were able to walk and cycle more during lockdown, participation in team sports, swimming and running saw substantial falls. The impact on the ability to exercise was also experienced most strongly by black and minority ethnic children.
