Year six children from Westcliff Primary School have been among the first group of schools to undergo the Sport4Champions scheme, which aims to get pupils taking part in more sport and eating healthier.

The Blackpool Council programme will work across twenty one schools in the town, encouraging pupils to be more active, with regular exercise resulting in prizes such as free swimming classes, sports classes or visit to the town’s High Ropes course.

The six week course, which has also started in three other schools this term – St Teresa’s, Unity and Bispham Endowed – also teaches pupils about healthy eating and how the body reacts to certain foods.

Children earn stickers for every portion of fruit and vegetables that they eat, as well as for each physical activity they take part in.

Stickers are accumulated over the six week period at which point they are added up and children can choose their prize.

Cllr Graham Cain, Cabinet Secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “This is a great initiative to teach children about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

“Being healthy has huge benefits for children. They are able to learn more and concentrate better, while getting involved in sport and exercise teaches them vital team building skills that will be useful for them as they grow up and move to secondary school.

“The classes have gone down extremely well so far, with children taking part in the fun sports as well as enjoying the healthy eating and exotic fruit tasting sessions that we have run in the classroom.”

Kelly Shaw, Assistant Headteacher at Westcliff Primary School, added: “Our Year 6 children have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Sports4Champions scheme and we cannot recommend it highly enough.

“It has been so good to see them working together as a team, supporting each other in the different activities and challenges.

“Educating them about healthy eating and exercise during childhood helps them make healthier choices as they become adults.”

To inspire the children further, pupils at Westcliff Primary School also received a visit from local Paralympic medallist Shelly Woods to talk to them about healthy diets and regular exercise.

She added: “It’s great to meet the children and see them being active.

“This is a fantastic initiative, whilst having fun through sport, the children get to learn about healthy eating and exercise and all the many benefits it brings which will help them throughout life.”

In addition to the work in the classroom, children are also being signposted to local sports clubs and groups in order to encourage them to try something new as well as making new friends.

To find out more about the Sport4Champions programme, contact martin.hibberd@blackpool.gov.uk.