Call for more movement at school.

Call for more movement at school.

The last years have seen more attention for enough exercise. There is still much to gain for children. Schools can also pay more attention to exercise. Especially outside gym class. This is in the advice 'Fun in exercise' that was given to prime minister Mark Rutte last week.

Gym class

All schools pay required attention to exercise. This is included in the core goals of education at primary and secondary schools. There are no rules about the number of hours. At most primary schools children get about one and a half hours of gym class per week. At secondary school this is between 2 and 2.5 hours per week.

Exercise outside gym class too

The Netherlands Sports Council, the Education Council and the Council for Public Health and Society now call on schools to let students exercise also in other ways. They see big differences between schools and ask for more cooperation between schools, municipalities, and sports clubs. They advise to set up exercise teams where subject teachers work with neighborhood sports coaches and qualified trainers. Healthy exercise at a young age leads to better health later in life.

Half of the children exercise enough

The Central Bureau for Statistics and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment found last year that half of children of primary school age get enough exercise. Most children play sports weekly and over half exercise at least four times a week. The guideline is at least one hour per week of moderate exercise, such as cycling or walking, and three times a week of stronger sports, like jumping, dancing, and strength training.

Less movement skill

Earlier this year the Education Inspectorate also focused on exercise education. Their research showed that students in primary school have lower movement skills. This mostly concerns balancing over unstable ground, swinging on a rope landing with a half turn, aiming at a raised target, throwing and catching a small ball via the wall, and wall tennis. However, it was unclear what exactly causes this decline.

At your school?

Does your child’s school encourage exercise outside gym class? And what are gym classes like at your school? Or do you want to know what you can do to get more policy about exercise at school? In that case, contact us via 0800-5010 or vraag@oudersonderwijs.nl.