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Grassroots SportsYou are in: Suffolk > Sport > Grassroots Sports > Activate!  Activate!By Kieran Turner The Jamie Oliver effect is taking place in Sudbury, in the playgrounds of Woodhall Primary School, as kids are encouraged to get active. Help playing audio/video Lunchtime at Woodhall Primary and there are children everywhere!! Space Hoppers, giant feet, "parachutes", ten pin bowling, cheerleading practice and netball are all being played by what seems like hundreds of enthusiastic children. It's all part of the Activate scheme, the brainchild of Trish Wingfield, a teacher at the school, who got the inspiration from Jamie Oliver. "It just came to me, we need to do more at playtimes, we've got all this space, why don't we use it so the children are more active?"  One of the problems with PE lessons is that there is a lot of emphasis on skills, rather than enjoying the games. The Activate classes therefore allow the children to mess around with new games, without the pressure of performing or doing anything "properly". As a consequence, some of the most popular games are not sports at all. Children I spoke to love the Giant Feet - "I like it because it doesn't matter if you fall off" and the Space Hoppers - "because they are good and bouncy!".
Possibly the most amazing thing about all this (apart form the kids haring around, going crazy!) is that all the equipment has been bought by the Activate club itself, the school has not given the scheme any money at all. Instead, the teachers and pupils have done it all themselves, writing letters to local businesses and holding auctions in order to raise the money needed. The scheme has revolutionised playtimes at the school - teachers are reporting far less disruption and trouble in classes, because the children are using their natural energy charging around at lunchtimes, not in disrupting lessons. So its a win - win situation, and one which will hopefully become as popular as the Jamie Oliver effect on school dinners! Help playing audio/video last updated: 23/04/2008 at 12:40 Have Your SayWhat do you think of the Activate scheme? Would you like one at your local school? Daniel Hunt Jade King Lauren Morris Mr W Ponsford SEE ALSOYou are in: Suffolk > Sport > Grassroots Sports > Activate!
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