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A Level Playing Field: Equalising access to sport and exercise for young people after Covid-19 https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/a-level-playing-field-equalising-access-to-sport-and-exercise-for-young-people-after-covid-19
Some initial thoughts:
Some initial thoughts:
Sport is proposed as a panacea for individual, community and societal ills. It can save lives, strengthen communities, serve society, prevent crime, improve educational attainment and prepare for the world of work. That message makes me uncomfortable as someone who loves sport.
Firstly because it sees the child as something that is broken, dysfunctional and in deficit and sport will fix them. Secondly because it isn't sport that will have the impact suggested, but good people intentionally designing positive experiences through sport that enrich lives.
6 Big Ideas:
1. The Daily Mile nation
2. A play friendly nation
3. Independent schools: charitable status and facilities sharing
4. School sports hubs
5. Amendment to the statutory framework for PE and moving youth sport to the DfE
6. Extending the School Day
1. The Daily Mile nation
2. A play friendly nation
3. Independent schools: charitable status and facilities sharing
4. School sports hubs
5. Amendment to the statutory framework for PE and moving youth sport to the DfE
6. Extending the School Day
Big Idea 1 - The Daily Mile nation
That is a no from me. We do not have anywhere near enough evidence that this will be a good thing yet. What we do have is contested and we don't know the long term impact. Why not a Daily Boing Kids or Daily StrengthLab Superheroes?
That is a no from me. We do not have anywhere near enough evidence that this will be a good thing yet. What we do have is contested and we don't know the long term impact. Why not a Daily Boing Kids or Daily StrengthLab Superheroes?
Big Idea 2 - A play friendly nation
Absolutely. The decline in both unstructured and structured physical play needs to be halted and reversed. Schools can do their bit for the community, but the community itself needs to promote physical play - for both young people and adults.
Absolutely. The decline in both unstructured and structured physical play needs to be halted and reversed. Schools can do their bit for the community, but the community itself needs to promote physical play - for both young people and adults.
Big Idea 3 - Independent schools: charitable status and facilities sharing
I'm unsure how realistic this is. Travel, risk assessment, timetabling, qualification, policy would all need to be reviewed. It's hard enough getting primary pupils to the local swimming pool.
I'm unsure how realistic this is. Travel, risk assessment, timetabling, qualification, policy would all need to be reviewed. It's hard enough getting primary pupils to the local swimming pool.
Big Idea 4 - School sports hubs
Learning together and sharing good practice is great... but didn't we already have this through the Specialist Schools programme and the school sports partnerships? The latter I thought was doing a good job before it was dismantled.
Learning together and sharing good practice is great... but didn't we already have this through the Specialist Schools programme and the school sports partnerships? The latter I thought was doing a good job before it was dismantled.
Big Idea 5 - Amendment to the statutory framework for PE and moving youth sport to the DfE
"all youth sport, school-based & community-based, should be moved into the DfE" - I agree we need a more joined up approach, don't know if the DfE are best for leading that.
"all youth sport, school-based & community-based, should be moved into the DfE" - I agree we need a more joined up approach, don't know if the DfE are best for leading that.
Big Idea 6 - Extending the School Day
Whilst I do believe some schools are underused resources that could better support community physical activity and sport, I do not think extending the school day is the answer, as it will come with unintended consequences.
Whilst I do believe some schools are underused resources that could better support community physical activity and sport, I do not think extending the school day is the answer, as it will come with unintended consequences.
Boundaries don't need to be made clearer and more defined, but blurred and weakened. We want what happens in school to seep out into the local community - a bridge between both so physical activity and sport becomes personally significant in people's lives.
The cynical part of me thinks this last Big Idea is all about business and making money from young people and their sporting participation. To ensure their needs are taken into account, it would be good to hear their voices. Something this document doesn't do very well.
