INDUSTRY NEWS

standard of fitness amongst children across the UK and highlights the need to address the fact that many children start school without having developed physical literacy skills.

Physical activity should be part of every child’s weekly homework schedule

Judy Murray supports ukactive report, Start Young, Stay Active recommending that physical literacy skills are embedded at a young age to create a healthy, active population.

The report Start Young, Stay Active, released by not-for-profit health body ukactive, calls on government, education providers and every stakeholder involved

in childhood development to recognise the importance of physical activity in the home, by including it in the national homework curriculum.

The report consolidates national information revealing that there is a declining

Endorsing the report, children’s activity advocate Judy Murray said: “It’s vital that parents encourage and foster an environment where activity is considered important, but it’s also critical for schools, sports providers and authorities to give parents the tools they need to instigate this process. Real change could be achieved by calling on government to include physical education homework as mandatory.”

ukactive CEO David Stalker said: “It’s simple, a child who is habitually active from a young age is more likely to be more confident, achieve academically and grow into a happy adult, free from chronic diseases, which have a detrimental impact on their personal health and on the nation’s spiralling NHS costs.”

What’s happening at REPs New Zealand

New pre screening tool providing new level of professionalism One of the current key projects is the development of the new pre screening tool and accompanying guide. The new guide book provides exercise professionals with industry approved best practice when dealing with the various pre screening outcomes (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc). The pre screening system also provides standard forms for referral on to other health professionals, which is important as our industry works to link more to allied health.

REPs registered exercise specialist To provide recognition for exercise professionals at the university degree level of education, REPs NZ has just launched its new Exercise Specialist registration level. The level will provide new opportunities for exercise professionals to engage with allied health, as a degree level of qualification is often required when engaging with other health professionals.

10 The REPs Journal 2014;30(summer):10-11