Agenda item

Context:

To receive a presentation regarding sports development and some of the leisure outcomes and impacts that the programmes have and how it feeds into the creative and active group within Monmouthshire before being presented to to the Public Service Board (PSB).

Key Issues:

To receive information regarding programmes being delivered and the impact that they are having on young people across Monmouthshire.

Member Scrutiny:

·         Sport is vital for tackling childhood obesity and improving behaviour of young people.

·         In terms of the Playmaker Programme, a commitment has been made to deliver this programme on an annual basis. The idea being that as the entire cohort has been trained this year, as pupils move into Year 6 next year, and the young ambassadors are identified, Year 5 will continue to be trained next October.

·         The Foundation Friends Programme was launched last week encouraging children to be good citizens as they get older.

·         Community Chest – 19 clubs have been supported.  However, the team is small and support is needed in areas of promotion. Partnership working is undertaken with Education, Health, and Early Years provision, which is working very well.

·         Community Chest has £60,000 to help clubs each year.  It is quite labour intensive.

·         With regard to the variety of the sports being provided from the  Playmaker Programme, feedback received from schools indicate that Years 5 are delivering a variety of lunchtime clubs which are engaging the whole of the school.  Feedback from teachers indicate that the Programme is having a positive effect on children’s education and improvements in their ability to concentrate in class.

·         The Playmaker Programme is currently being delivered in six primary schools within Monmouthshire.  All of the after school clubs are multi-sport based.

·         Nationally, there needs to be a greater emphasis on the need for children to undertake physical activity within primary schools.

·         The Playmaker Programme is a sports UK award which is a six hour qualification. The Team spends a day working with an entire class to provide children with the skills to be able to deliver sporting activity. 

·         The Daily Mile - Each school delivers this differently.  All schools have been mapped in terms of orienteering courses.  This course is essentially 15 minutes of physical activity.

·         Support for pupils with health issues is also provided.

·         Healthy eating and nutrition training is provided.

·         An issue was raised with regard to obtaining measurable health outcomes of pupils via the Authority’s Public Service Board (PSB), as childhood obesity has been recognised as one of the key themes that the PSB will be investigating.

·         More work is being undertaken around the importance of mental wellbeing by showing that sport can improve a person’s mental health.

·         The ‘Girls Can’ Programme – data indicates that the biggest drop off is occurring here.  Therefore, mass participation days and specific sessions help in trying to combat this issue.

·         Next financial year investment is being sought for a data capture system where young people will be able to complete an on-line survey.  This will commence at secondary school level to begin with.  This will then identify areas where a bespoke sports package might be provided.

·         During the summer term the Team will be working with both primary and secondary schools with regard to the schools’ sports survey for Sport Wales.

·         Sporting facilities within schools differs depending on individual schools. The Team provides support on how to use the space available and how intense the session needs to be depending on the actual time available to pupils to ensure the children are getting the most out of these sessions.

·         Schools are able to generate funding tokens to improve facilities. 

·         Sport Wales does not fund directly to schools.  Instead, it funds organisations such as the Playmaker Programme which then works with schools to deliver sport based activities.

·         There is a strong working relationship between the schools, the Children and Young People Directorate and the Team and there is a need to ensure that outcomes are achieved and evidence is captured.

·         Invitations were extended to the Select Committee to attend the Playmaker conferences.

·         The Playmaker Programme is delivered to all pupils providing confidence, motivation and leadership qualities.

·         Funding has been received to provide some Looked After Children in Monmouthshire with 10 days free access into this provision.  This will be delivered in February half term, Easter Term and May half term.