Sports development
BeforeSchools
YourStory have teamed up with Fit4Kidz, a children’s sports development company, to run this ground-breaking sports programme to help improve fitness and performance in the classroom. We work with primary schools, with pupils meeting on Wandsworth Common at 7.45am to participate in a range of sports.
Experienced coaches from YourStory lead pupils from year groups 1-6 in a variety of sports including athletics, netball and ultimate frisbee. After an hour of coaching the pupils are escorted back to their school gates. Research suggests that children concentrate better if they’ve had the chance to burn off surplus energy before arriving in the classroom.
Mez Restaurant has written diet sheets for pupils, telling them how to maximise sports performance by eating the right foods. Diets are monitored before and after the three month programme to see if pupils have taken up the suggestions for more natural, nutritious, high energy foods. YourStory also provide feedback sheets and liaise with teachers to note any changes in academic performance.
In partnership with YourStory, leading social policy academic Dr David Cowen of London's South Bank University is preparing a detailed study of the pilot programme to identify the effect it has on children and will recommend areas for future improvement.