Healthy pupil plan launched in city (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Healthy pupil plan launched in city

2:50pm Saturday 3rd January 2009 in Search By Ben Barnett

Bradford fitness firm Let’s Get Healthy is rolling out its exercise and well-being programme to schoolchildren on its home turf for the first time.

Parents and pupils at Frizinghall Primary in Salisbury Road will be the first in the city to experience the Jump on Board scheme which has already been a hit with schools elsewhere in the country.

Operating as a 12-week after-school club, youngsters will be led through a workout session and have their fitness analysed using advanced technology.

Software called Active Expression is used to gather information from children using hand sets, much like using a mobile phone. The children answer questions and the results are shown on a screen for them to discuss with their health leader.

Parents are invited to join in for the last 15 minutes of every session when children share what they have learned and introduce the healthy giveaways they get to take home.

Each week pupils are given pedometers, hula hoops and other fitness apparatus to encourage their family to be active at home.

The programme was developed with the help of Leeds Metropolitan University and last term sponsor vdotcom, which provides hardware and software to schools, funded one-off sessions at Frizinghall Primary, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Park Lane and Mill Lane Junior Infant and Early Years School in Batley.

Maria Bourke, founder of Let’s Get Healthy which is based at the Gumption Business Centre in the city centre, said: “We’ve been delivering our Jump on Board programme to children throughout the UK and I was desperate to do some sessions in our home town.

“We’ve been delivering practical sessions in schools which range from how to overcome bullying to street dance.

“The funding from vdotcom has enabled us to use technology to gather information from children which illustrates their current health and lifestyle behaviours, as well as their opinions on certain topics such as bullying.

“This information is then passed on to the head teacher. I feel passionately we should embrace technology in our quest to get whole communities interested in a healthier lifestyle.”

Rory Brannigan, managing director of Birstall-based vdotcom, said: “The children all love the sessions and it’s great that we can provide meaningful information from pupils back to schools.

“It’s great to hear what children would like to see happen in their community to help them lead a healthier lifestyle.”