There were cheers all round at a Derby school when pupils got the chance to meet a footballing icon after completing a six-week programme exploring the joy of movement and healthy choices.
Year five pupils at William Gilbert School in Duffield – part of the Derby Diocese Academy Trust (DDAT) – took part in the Joy of moving programme, run by Derby County Community Trust.
The sessions were designed to make being active fun, with the final week featuring a special visit from Derby County’s mascot, Rammie.
Ten-year-old Joseph Arthur said: “I have really enjoyed the programme. It’s taught me so much about being healthy, the importance of eating well and having a good sleep routine. I have been bringing an apple to school every day since.
“The games are so much fun, and we’ve been playing them at break times since. My favourite indoor activity was naming fruits for every letter of the alphabet.
“I really loved meeting Rammie too! I’m a big Derby County fan, so seeing him up close was amazing.”
Sessions were split into two parts. For the first 45 minutes, pupils played games in the playground with a community coach, learning activities they could continue during breaks to stay active. The second half of the session took place in the classroom, where pupils worked through booklets packed with tips on healthy eating, sleep routines and lifestyle choices.
Ed Garnett, schools coaching lead, for Derby County Community Trust, said: “The programme is designed to teach pupils about physical activity through fun and to help them enjoy it.
“The children at William Gilbert have been fantastic – enthusiastic in both the practical and classroom sessions.”
This is the second year the school has run the Joy of moving programme, as part of a wider initiative promoting healthy lifestyles and active travel. They have also been recognised for its efforts with the Modeshift TravelWise Week School award, reflecting its commitment to encouraging children to travel to school in a healthy and sustainable way.
The school has also been selected to pilot the School Street concept, introducing temporary restrictions on motorised traffic at drop-off and pick-up times to create a safer, greener environment for pupils, while helping to encourage a healthy start to the day by including exercise in the journey to school.
Headteacher Helen Britten said: “We were delighted to welcome back the team, especially Rammie – the children were so excited when they saw him walk in.
“We’re always teaching the importance of being healthy, but when it comes from people linked directly to Derby County Football Club, it really resonates.
“The programme is brilliant and has made a noticeable difference in how the children approach healthy habits.”
William Gilbert will be opening its doors to prospective families on Saturday 22nd November between 9:30am and 11:30am with a special open morning themed around nursery rhymes, to coincide with National Nursery Rhyme Week. Visitors will be given a guided tour of the school by year 5 and 6 pupils, offering parents the chance to see the school through the eyes of its pupils and ask questions along the way. Younger visitors will receive a nursery rhyme-themed goody bag to take home as a memento of their visit.
The Joy of moving programme is Ferrero’s corporate social responsibility programme that encourages children to take part in physical activity and inspires them to lead an active lifestyle. Joy of moving, which is now in its eleventh year, is developed through a charity partnership between Ferrero and the EFL in the Community. EFL in the Community’s network of EFL Football Club charities deliver the programme in schools to help children understand the importance of a balanced and varied lifestyle alongside getting active. More information can be found at https://www.joyofmoving.co.uk/.