Getting Pupils Active for 2012
The Essex Carrying The Flame support pack was launched today (Wednesday) by Essex County Council (ECC) and provides ideas which explore various opportunities the Olympics and Paralympics can offer in the classroom.
Included in the pack are examples of physical activities and games that schools can add to their curriculum as well as suggestions for running Games related events.
The support pack will complement the London 2012 education programme which is being launched later this year and supports the council's pledge, as part of the EssexWorks initiative, to provide improved and new facilities to help young people fulfil their sporting potential.
A spokesman for ECC said: "As part of this pledge, the council will provide funding for enhanced and new sports facilities; providing opportunities in schools to develop gifted and talented pupils; support the work of sports clubs and coaches and increase substantially funding to Essex athletes with the potential to excel.
"The Essex Carrying The Flame pack can also support targets related to increasing the amount of time that children participate in high quality physical education and school sport and also in promoting healthy active lifestyles."
Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council's cabinet member for the 2012 Games, added: "The Olympic and Paralympic movements have inspired generations of children and young people to achieve.
"In education, the use of the Olympic values, which include excellence, friendship and respect, and the Paralympic values, which include determination, courage, inspiration and equality, can provide an invaluable tool for teaching and learning."
He added: "With the Games coming to the UK in 2012, and with London on our doorstep, the opportunities for Essex are huge. Not only can the
Olympic and Paralympic Games develop an awareness of high quality sport competition, but they can also provide resources and vast opportunities across the curriculum.
"The Essex Carrying The Flame pack offers the first step in using the Games in the classroom, and provides a fantastic basis upon which schools can build using the national programmes that will be rolled out later this year.
Harlow Herald
