Physical Activity of Children and Young People
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National Assembly for Wales Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Physical Activity of Children and Young People March 2019 www.assembly.wales The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales, agrees Welsh taxes and holds the Welsh Government to account. An electronic copy of this document can be found on the National Assembly website: www.assembly.wales/SeneddHealth Copies of this document can also be obtained in accessible formats including Braille, large print, audio or hard copy from: Health, Social Care and Sport Committee National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA Tel: 0300 200 6565 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @SeneddHealth © National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2019 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the National Assembly for Wales Commission and the title of the document specified. National Assembly for Wales Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Physical Activity of Children and Young People March 2019 www.assembly.wales About the Committee The Committee was established on 28 June 2016. Its remit can be found at: www.assembly.wales/SeneddHealth Committee Chair: Dai Lloyd AM Plaid Cymru South Wales West Current Committee membership: Dawn Bowden AM Jayne Bryant AM Welsh Labour Welsh Labour Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Newport West Angela Burns AM Welsh Conservatives Neil Hamilton AM Carmarthen West and South UKIP Wales Pembrokeshire Mid and West Wales Helen Mary Jones AM Lynne Neagle AM Plaid Cymru Welsh Labour Mid and West Wales Torfaen David Rees AM Welsh Labour Aberavon The following Members were also members of the Committee during this inquiry. Rhun ap Iorwerth AM Caroline Jones AM Plaid Cymru Independent Ynys Môn South Wales West Julie Morgan AM Welsh Labour Cardiff North Physical activity of children and young people Contents Chair’s foreword ..................................................................................................... 5 Recommendations ................................................................................................ 7 1. Background ......................................................................................................... 10 2. What do we know about physical activity levels in children in Wales? ....................................................................................................................... 13 Data collection and measurement of fitness and activity levels ................................... 13 Our view ........................................................................................................................................................................... 18 3. Effectiveness of Welsh Government policies ...................................... 22 Role of public bodies ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Role of Parents .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Our view .......................................................................................................................................................................... 30 4. The role of schools .......................................................................................... 32 Early years ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Time and priority allocated to physical activity .......................................................................... 36 Break times .................................................................................................................................................................. 40 Physical activity as a core subject .............................................................................................................. 41 New curriculum ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 Choice of activities .................................................................................................................................................. 44 Teacher training ....................................................................................................................................................... 45 Extending the school day ................................................................................................................................ 47 Access to school facilities .................................................................................................................................. 51 Our view .......................................................................................................................................................................... 53 5. Differences in boys and girls attitudes to physical activity ........... 57 Stereotypes ................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Media coverage of women’s sport ........................................................................................................... 61 Our view ........................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Physical activity of children and young people 6. Tackling other inequalities ......................................................................... 63 Disabled children and young people ................................................................................................... 63 Socio economic deprivation ......................................................................................................................... 65 Young carers................................................................................................................................................................ 66 Our view .......................................................................................................................................................................... 67 7. Other barriers to increasing levels of physical activity ................... 69 Sedentary lifestyles ............................................................................................................................................... 69 Outdoor play opportunities ........................................................................................................................... 70 Facilities ............................................................................................................................................................................ 72 Funding of sport programmes .................................................................................................................... 73 Active travel ..................................................................................................................................................................75 Our view .......................................................................................................................................................................... 78 Physical activity of children and young people Chair’s foreword In Wales we are facing a national crisis in terms of our children’s health. The latest figures from the Public Health Wales Child Measurement Programme show an increase in the number of obese four to five year olds over the last two years. More than one in four children aged four to five are overweight or obese in Wales, 27.1%, compared to 22.6% in England, in this age group. The World Health Organisation (WHO) regards obesity as one of the most serious global public health challenges for the 21st century, and the UK has one of the highest levels of obesity in Western Europe. We heard compelling evidence that Fundamental Motor Skills need to be taught at an early age, and there is a misconception that all the skills will develop naturally in childhood. We were concerned to hear views that there is currently a gap in the foundation phase in terms of teaching these skills, and believe this must be addressed, as active children are more likely to become active adults. We agree with stakeholders that schools have a vital role to play in getting children and young people to be more physically active. We were very concerned to hear evidence that physical activity is being squeezed out of school timetables due to curriculum pressures, and the majority of schools across Wales are not meeting the recommended 120 minutes a week for physical education. It is clear to us that physical activity is not given enough priority in schools – this must change. The development of the forthcoming new curriculum offers a fantastic opportunity to redress the balance and give physical activity the attention and priority it deserves. We agree with stakeholders that the recommended 120 minutes a week should be a statutory minimum