The Daily Mile is an initiative which was started by Elaine Wyllie, when she was Head teacher of a Large Scottish Primary School in 2012. Elaine noticed that the children in her school lacked fitness: when asked to run around the school pitch, most were exhausted before they reached
halfway. The children were keen to improve their fitness, and it was agreed they could spend 15 minutes each day in school walking, jogging or running around the path. Within one month the children were averaging 5 laps of the path, which, when measured, turned out to be a mile – so The Daily Mile was born. Since then the initiative has been introduced into over 1,750 schools in the UK, over 540 in Belgium, over 100 in the Netherlands and over 40 in Ireland.
The Daily Mile is very simple to start in a school. Without wasting time to change into kit, every child in the school goes out each day in the fresh air to run, jog or walk at their own pace for 15 minutes. It is not competitive and most children average a mile, with some doing more and some doing less, although all children should be encouraged to run over time. It is not PE, sport or cross-country but a physical activity which is aimed at improving the children's physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. It can help children to focus and concentrate in the classroom and raise their attainment. Please complete the expression of interest form attached and return to Mary Doyle if your school is interested in taking part in the programme.
Open to all Primary Schools in Waterford
Deadline: Friday 27th January
Cost: FREE
Contact: Mary Doyle, Sports Development Officer
on 0761 10 2619 or email: mdoyle@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
