News
Sport England and Fit For Sport engage disengaged children R
esearch published recently shows how primary schools across the UK can engage disengaged children into school sport and activity. Last year, Sport England commissioned Fit For Sport, the UK's leading children's healthy lifestyle provider, to explore how primary schools in Manchester and Somerset could provide more opportunities for young people to be physically more active and take part in school sport. Importantly, children of all physical levels and ability were targeted. The Engage to Compete pilot programme was funded by Sport England and delivered by Fit For Sport. It set out to develop confidence and skills of children so they can find the pathway easier between school sport/activity and represent their schools at the Sainsbury's School Games. The key to the programme was the combination of training and support, training not only PE staff, but also support staff to deliver structured, fun, enjoyable physical activities. The activity was not limited to PE lessons but delivered throughout the full school day, typically in the playground during lunch and break times for all children.
“By providing training, support and resources, Engage to Compete enables schools to continue the programme – and indeed build upon it – long into the future,” explains Dean Horridge, Fit For Sport founder and CEO. “Investment in school sport provides a welcome injection of cash, but for changes to be sustainable, a programme must take a longer view and seek to empower schools and inspire all pupils to get active – and stay active. That is what makes Engage to Compete stand out.”
Talking about the Engage to Compete programme, Sport England Director of
Community Sport, Mike Diaper, says: “We know that children’s early experience of sport and physical activity plays a major role in developing a sporting habit as they grow older. It’s very positive to see how giving pupils access to sport in innovative ways outside of traditional PE lessons, can help build an appetite for sport and even competition.”
“Our report shows without doubt that Engage to Compete is a highly effective intervention programme that can engage all in activity and increase participation in competition levels in underperforming regions,” says Crichton Casbon, Independent Evaluator. “It proves that disengaged schools and pupils are receptive to
physical activity and, given the opportunity, children will engage with sport. For some, this programme will be the stepping stone to a rewarding hobby or even career in sport.” While Engage to Compete encouraged additional activity in PE lessons from PE teachers, it was the non-curricular staff and time periods at school where the biggest impact was made. Non-PE department staff learned how to deliver physical activities during lunchtime and playtime, thus tapping into underused resources and making the lunchtime ‘downtime’ more positive and productive. This was welcomed by schools with 62% highlighting competition and activity in playtime as a key requirement of the programme.
Compensation Culture in Schools: A Misunderstanding Comment by Malcolm Underhill, IBB solicitors
F
or many years it has been the case that those injured, due to the fault of others, are entitled to compensation. This principle is not questioned, but there are groups who appear to consider this principle is being exploited, to the extent Britain has a “compensation culture”.
Certainly, this phrase is frequently trotted out, ostensibly stigmatising those who are exercising a legal right. In these circumstances usage is unfair, verging on discrimination against the injured.
The Daily Mail recently reported on a teacher injured at work. The headlines were that the teacher slipped on a tomato ketchup sachet, for which they were awarded £230,000. For the newspaper, these were the key issues, not the harm caused or long term effects of a teacher injured. The Taxpayers’ Alliance also seeks to condemn school staff exercising their rights, implying that compensation was not justified in a particular case “because they
tripped over a mop handle!” Rules designed to protect school staff and children from injury or illness exist for good reason. I agree with the National Union of Teachers that generally schools are safe environments, but employers can do more. The HSE recently reported upon Thornton Grammar School in Bradford being fined for failing in its statutory
responsibilities. That failure resulted in a school worker falling. The HSE said it was a serious incident that could have been prevented. It was fortunate that it was not a fatality. Those who criticise the law on compensation possibly do so without appreciating the effects of serious injury. Their focus should not be on the cause of the accident but the effects, in terms of injury and financial consequences that follow. A staff member who is deprived of their livelihood due to an employer failing to protect them from harm, must surely be entitled to recompense in a mature and civilised society.
14
www.education-today.co.uk
It is estimated that 75% of schools have asbestos in their buildings. Asbestos kills over 4000 people each year. Surely the Daily Mail and Taxpayers’ Alliance will accept that staff who contract a fatal asbestos disease at work are entitled to compensation. Children too are entitled to compensation. Despite actions taken in response to the Soham tragedy there are still paedophiles gaining access to our children in schools. A report (Safe from Harm) published by IBB Solicitors, revealed 9000 allegations of abuse of children in schools, over a 3 year period. It is appreciated that abuse of children can cause long term psychological harm. Those children require our support, not derision. Compensation can help victims deal with the effects of child sexual abuse. Whether staff or pupils sustain injury or illness, their priority is not money. They want to be heard, they want an apology. They would rather the incident leading to injury did not happen. Compensation is no substitute for good health and a contented life.
Those who seek to criticise claimants should reflect, take account of the long term harm that can be caused, both to the individual and their family. The Taxpayers’ Alliance believes compensation is “wasting taxpayers’ money”. Therefore, rather than criticise children and school workers claiming compensation they should, for example, campaign to support victims of child abuse and for the removal of asbestos from our schools.
April 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40