The 10 principles of Active Movement

In developing Active Movement programme, we set 10 key principles:

1. Active Movement is not an exercise regime but a behaviour programme for long-term change
2. Active Movement recognises the power of small steps to achieve cumulative gain
3. Active Movement is an ongoing process that starts from Nursery and will last throughout the children’s education
4. Active Movement must constantly remain empathetic and relevant to the ages and skills of the audience and location it is trying to inspire
5. Active Movement must be inclusive to ALL children. It should not be limited or inaccessible to   any age, gender type, socio-demographic, economic status, ethnic background or physical ability
6. Active Movement should not just involve the children, but all those who will impact on their behaviour including teachers, parents, family and the local community
7. Active Movement is not focussed on fitness today (though it will have impact), but good health options for tomorrow and a lifetime
8. Active Movement is a template approach flexible enough to be integrated into any setting; versatile enough to adapt to any location; and organic enough to allow constant evolution, innovation, adaptation and personalisation
9. Active Movement understands that behaviour change requires time to instil and consistency to maintain. It is therefore is a three-term programme to ensure full integration and to set the foundation for ongoing sustainability
10. Active Movement wants participants to be reassured as to its impact and ongoing benefits. That is why the programme offers a wide range of qualitative and quantitative evaluations

Active resource

Active Movement is one of the most comprehensive, inclusive and achievable programmes for increasing childhood activity.

It integrates movement into the classroom and the school environment as well as into lessons, projects, homework, nutrition, merit systems, home life, exam revision, school events and the community. (See Nursery, Infant, Primary and Secondary school for details).

Active Movement supplies a complete integration, communication and evaluation package to be dovetailed into whatever setting it is required to inspire.

REMEMBER, ACTIVE MOVEMENT DOES NOT NEED

• Extensive training
• Any equipment
• Special facilities
• Dedicated space
• Extra-curricular activity
• Coaching staff
• Class disruption
• Curriculum change
• School re-organisation
• Complicated assessments

Most importantly, it does NOT burden teachers or compromise teaching time.

The programme is also supported through the first year by the Active Movement online platform, account team and service line.

And, of course, it is backed by the expertise and authority of Professor Mike Loosemore MBE, a pioneer in Exercise Medicine and co-founder of Active Movement.

Active integration

As Active Movement is deliberately designed to be part of school routine not as ‘another thing to do’. It is vital that the programme is properly integrated from the very beginning with all participants fully briefed, effectively supported – and reassured as to the practical nature of their commitment.

We therefore complete in all cases:

• Headteacher briefing
• Fifty minute teacher training (CPD)
• Access to the licensed online platform of entire programme for any teacher
• Children (and parent if required) introductory presentations
• Link with on-site co-ordinator (selected from within the setting) as an ongoing point of contact
• Parent launch programme
• Timing plan as programme guide
• Children’s ‘Active Launch’ programme to create awareness and ownership
• Simple pre-campaign online behaviour questionnaire to benchmark activity status

This informs, excites and welcomes participants to follow the programme from the beginning – and enables us to set parameters against which we can judge its effect.

Active communication

Changing behaviour requires constantly educating participants about the reasons for change and inspiring them to do so. Creating an Active Movement environment is therefore an essential part of delivering the programme.

We also recognise that the communication skills and maturity of the children change over time, particularly in a programme that extends across such a wide age range.

At the same time, we look for consistency in its evolution as part of the transitional process that maintains each child’s connection with the programme. This familiarity, relevance and continuity sustain the behaviour change.

Downloads of Active Movement material is available to all participants and will vary in content according to the setting. It includes:

• A wide range of posters, signage, boards, books, stickers, badges, incentives and individual options to create an Active Movement environment across any Key Stage
• Animal characters (Early Years) and a group of multi-ethnic human characters (Year 1-4) are used as means of creating connections with the children and delivering key information
• Early Years participants receive a range of animal toys to empower staff to deliver educational messages and stimulate the children
• Messaging covers educational, inspirational, departmental, directional, zonal and tactical elements of the programme in the classroom, around the school or at home. Further resource supports events, staff and parents.
• Launch material is supplied to promote the beginning of the programme and to act as information for visitors and parents
• Throughout the programme there is ongoing contact through online communication, the service line, the programme platform, reference material, staff information as well as direct communication with the onsite co-ordinator

There is also the facility for you to purchase the material pre-printed and personalised.

Active evaluation

Any setting investing into the Active Movement programmes needs some reassurance as to the value of committing their limited funds. We recognise that schools need a clear understanding of the programme’s effect across as many criteria as possible both qualitative and quantitative.

As part of the standard Active Movement programme, there are a combination of standard measures including

• Pre- and post-campaign online behaviour questionnaire (analysed by Active Movement)
• Stand-up research programme for ad hoc insights into nutrition, sleeping habits, school travel and weekend (analysed by Active Movement)
• Teacher, parent forums with Active Movement each term (usually phone-based)
• Group discussion with children at the programme end (face-to-face if practical or phone-based)

 There are additional evaluation options some of which are individually costed

• Focus groups held with teachers and parents in mid-campaign to discuss qualitative effects around programme affinity, enjoyability, ease of implementation and other effects conducted by a third-party researcher. This has been useful in finessing individual programmes
• Attainment testing. This is a series of Active Movement options to help boost class energy, focus and results
• Physical tests via a hand-grip test conducted across all children during PE lessons pre-and post- the campaign
• Independent Cluster Control Test option to offer objective and quantitative assessment
• Output from previous evaluations can be seen in some of the featured case histories.

Active supervision

Active Movement is designed to be easily implemented into school routine via the comprehensive integration programme and the ongoing support of teachers and the onsite co-ordinator.

It is soon established in the setting and the programme swiftly becomes part of everyday behaviour. Experience has also shown that teachers quickly become more experimental and pro-active, whilst children take little time to be  increasingly involved and motivated.

The imminent online platform, combined with the regular updates from Active Movement, will also help maintain momentum – whilst the Active Movement service line is always available to offer advice, support and ideas at any time.

Making it work for you

By programme co-ordinator Peter Savage 

‘Active Movement is easy to implement. It has lots of options and variety to constantly challenge the children about their sedentary behaviour so embedding an awareness and understanding that will last them a lifetime.

Here are some key ways to make it work best for your school or nursery:

1. Attend the teacher training session. It will explain the concept, your role, its easy implementation and its energising effect on school life

2. Introduce two mandatory movements from the start. They are usually Active Register (taking the register standing up) and Active Answers (answering questions by raising yourself not your hand!). This will reassure you how easy is to bring to the classroom and how it energises a class rather than disrupts it

3. Ensure everyone joins each element of the event programme, including the launch event. It excites children, engaging them in the programme and its key messages

4. Be as innovative as you wish. Active Movement is not just a list of options, but a way of thinking. Movement can be added into every lesson and every subject. Talk to Active Movement about ideas and lesson planning

5. The more you do, the more you want to do. So many teachers fear in the beginning that this will be demanding on their time and energy, yet discover that Active Movement is energising, innovating, involving and rewarding.’