A BRIGHOUSE sports education firm is working with schools across Yorkshire to help them fulfil new Government guidelines designed to tackle obesity among primary school children.

Active Community Education in Sport (ACES) has launched its PE and Health ratings table, a tool designed to help teachers assess current levels of sporting activity and identify areas for improvement.

It will help schools better fulfil the Government’s new Voluntary Healthy Rating, which is now part of a school’s overall Ofsted score. The rating scheme has been introduced to encourage schools to help reduce obesity among pupils by creating opportunities for healthier eating and increased physical activity throughout the school day.

According to the latest Government guidance almost a third of UK children aged two to 15 are overweight or obese, with younger generations becoming obese at an earlier age and staying obese for longer.

Schools now receive an additional £6,000 a year to fund access to PE and sports education.

Kyle Dench, founder and company director at ACES, said: “Physical activity levels within schools will be a key measure as part of the new Voluntary Healthy Rating scheme, and schools will need to demonstrate what they are doing to encourage their pupils to be more physically active.

“Ofsted inspectors will expect to see pupils making informed choices about physical activity, so it’s important that schools can evidence their culture towards promoting PE as part of their pupils’ welfare.”

In addition to its PE & Health ratings table, ACES is offering advice to schools across Yorkshire on how pupils can achieve the required minimum 30 minutes of ‘moderate to vigorous’ physical activity a day.

Mr Dench added: “ACES is encouraging schools across Yorkshire to get ahead of the game with the Voluntary Healthy Rating, so that they can tackle obesity among pupils head-on, create more opportunity for pupils to get active, and demonstrate clearly to Ofsted the measures they have in place to encourage participation in sport and creating a generally healthier lifestyle.”