Ideas and resources to support schools in promoting and practically implementing quality physical activity experiences.

We support schools in a number of ways in using physical activity experiences to positively contribute to the wellbeing of young people, helping them to become lifelong learners who are confident and creative, connected, and actively involved.

We do this through advice, resources, professional development, and localised personnel support available to all schools and kura. Within primary and intermediate schools and kura one of our key support initiatives is Healthy Active Learning, which is a joint initiative with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health that is part of the Government's Child and Youth Wellbeing strategy.

When young people are involved in being active it impacts them not only in a physical outcomes sense, but also contributes and is connected to supporting their mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing in an interwoven way.

It is important these experiences are quality, and so have a positive effect on the holistic wellbeing of young people. We need to consider how they impact on young people’s motivation, confidence and competence to be active, along with their knowledge and understanding of how being active contributes to their overall life and wellbeing.

Within the education setting, there are numerous opportunities to ensure we can support that focus on quality physical activity experiences through play, sport, active transport and involving movement opportunities in wider learning areas, along with of course the specific subject of physical education within the Health and Physical Education learning area.