Birkby Infant and Nursery School: Creating an Active School
At Birkby Infant and Nursery School, physical education, healthy lifestyles, sport and children’s emotional wellbeing are key priorities. We are part of Creating Active Schools, a research-based whole-school approach focused on increasing and improving physical activity.
Why Become an Active School?
Improved focus - Short bursts of activity help break up long periods of sitting, improving concentration and engagement.
Greater participation - Movement makes learning more fun and interactive, helping children stay involved.
Higher attainment - Physical activity boosts focus and leads to better performance in class.
Better health - Long periods of sitting harm health. Activity reduces risks linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
Mental wellbeing - Movement releases endorphins, lowers stress, and encourages social interaction.
Healthy lifelong habits - Being active doesn’t require sporting ability, simple habits formed early support long-term health and happiness.
What We Do as a School
Travel - We use the WOW Travel initiative to encourage walking, scooting, and cycling, helping children start the day actively.
In Class - Lessons include more movement-based learning. Strategies such as Wake Up, Shake Up, active learning tasks, and short activity bursts help re-energise pupils.
At Play - Planned active breaks and structured play encourage all children—including less active pupils—to move more.
At Home - Children should be active for at least 60 minutes daily, with around half achieved in school. We share ideas and activities to help families support active habits at home.
Some ideas you might like to try:
10 minute shake up: https://www.nhs.uk/10-minute-shake-up/shake-ups
50 things to do https://kirklees.50thingstodo.org/app/os#!/welcome
SuperMovers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers
Walk to school: https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school/primary-schools
This is PE: https://www.yorkshiresport.org/get-active/thisispe/
Clubs and classes in Kirklees: https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/kirklees/clubs-and-classes
Huddersfield splash park: https://www.yeahdaysout.co.uk/splash-park
Huddersfield Giants: https://hgct.co.uk/sports/
Huddersfield Town: https://www.htafcfoundation.com/sports/
Huddersfield tennis club: https://www.hltsc.co.uk/