Andrew George MP finds out about the Sainsbury’s ‘Active Kids for All’ programme

MP Andrew George meets Active Kids Ambassador Ellie Simmonds OBE and encourages schools, groups and clubs to sign-up for inclusive PE training in his constituency.

Andrew George  is encouraging registered schools, groups and clubs to sign-up for inclusive PE training after attending the Parliamentary Launch of Active Kids for All at the House of Commons last Wednesday where he even got to meet Ambassador Ellie Simmonds.

As well as meeting Ellie and representatives from a variety of sports, educational and disability groups including the British Paralympic Association,Andrew George found out about the Active Kids for All programme, which is an inclusive PE training programme to support teachers within schools across his constituency to develop the skills and confidence to teach and include young disabled people in PE and school sport.

As part of their 2012 Paralympic Games legacy, Sainsbury’s developed Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training to give teachers the confidence and skills to provide high quality PE for all young people. Sainsbury’s will be investing £1 million over four years in Active Kids For All training courses that will ensure over 500,000 young disabled children will lead healthier and more active lifestyles.

Andrew George said: “It was really inspiring to meet Ellie Simmonds and learn more about the Active Kids for All Scheme.  I know what an important part many of my constituents have played in collecting Active Kids vouchers, which is helping young children understand cooking and healthy eating from a young age. With the ‘Active Kids for All’ teaching programme it’s great to see how well the scheme is developing and the important part it plays in today’s educational society. I hope schools, groups and clubs across my constituency have fun collecting over the next few months and I hope even more will join this great scheme”.

Barry Horne, Chief Executive of The English Federation of Disability Sport added: “Through the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training, working with our partners, we will undoubtedly improve the quality of PE provision for young disabled people in the UK. It will provide teachers with additional knowledge and skills and better equip them to deliver inclusive PE. For the young disabled people, we hope more will enjoy their early experience, be encouraged to take part and continue to be active long after their school years.”

Sainsbury’s customers at Penzance and Helston can now collect vouchers in-store and help registered schools, groups and clubs receive equipment and experiences.

Last week, Sainsbury’s launched their 2014 Active Kids scheme – over 100 new cookery and nutrition toolkits have been added to the range of sports and cooking equipment on offer as part of the voucher exchange for schools, Scouts and Guide groups and clubs.  This comes ahead of key changes to the national curriculum on cooking and healthy eating, where all pupils between the ages of seven and 14 are to be taught cookery from September. Meanwhile, Teacher resource toolkits, developed in collaboration with the British Nutritional Foundation and the Department of Education, will also equip school children with the materials, ingredients and knowledge to learn the skills to lead healthier lives.

Active Kids ambassador, Ellie Simmonds added: “Understanding the balance between food and nutrition is something I’ve been very aware of as a young athlete.  So, I’m really excited that Active Kids 2014 will help children learn more skills to get cooking as well as getting active.”