Over 1200 pupils in Salford are benefitting from an innovative new health and fitness app being trialled across the city.
The EdStart Health and Fitness Programme has been designed to improve the overall health of primary school children and teach them the benefits of healthy lifestyles through a range of sessions, with performance recorded within the app.
Through fitness based sessions and educational teachings around health and wellbeing, the programme aims to improve the overall health of primary age children, building lasting positive attitudes towards health and fitness and helping children to make informed choices surrounding healthy lifestyles as they grow older.
Chris Irwin, managing director at EdStart said:
“We believe that overall health is a basic right for every child in this country. The importance of providing future generations with the tools to take ownership of their own health and fitness as they grow into adults has long been undervalued.
I am delighted to see the positive impact that the programme has already had on those children taking part. Feedback from the individual schools has been fantastic and going forward, our aim is for as many children as possible to reap the benefits of our programme and provide a healthier future for all, in turn relieving strain on the NHS.”
Karen Wild, head teacher at Broad Oak Primary School said:
“The impact of the EdStart Health and Fitness Programme has been incredible and we have seen noticeable improvements in the fitness of all of our pupils.
“Teachings on other key areas such as nutrition, sleep and flexibility have also provided our pupils with a greater awareness of the important roles they play in supporting a healthy lifestyle.
“The availability of the programme as an app has allowed us to provide the programme on an on-going basis to our pupils, enabling us to make this a part of their curriculum and providing children with the tools that they need to take ownership of their health as they progress through school and into adulthood.”
Dr Babar Farooq, GP at Blackfriars Medical Practice in Salford and clinical lead for children and young people at Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:
“Obesity is a major concern in Salford, and education at an early stage plays a huge part in informing children as to the correct health and life-style choices that they will make as adults in later life.
“This programme is a fantastic way to not only help the city’s children to keep fit, but also to guide them in the right choices that they will make further down the line.”
The programme has currently trialled across 12 schools in Salford thanks to funding provided by Salford CCG via Salford Community and Voluntary Services ‘Universal Health Fund’, with the ambition that it will soon be introduced to schools nationally.
