BOOKS were swapped for racquets at a Coventry sports and leisure centre to help provide youngsters with physical activities on teacher training days.
40 year six pupils from Finham Park Primary School enjoyed an action-packed day of sports activities as part of a new pilot programme which aims to keep children engaged during days off.
Coventry Sports Foundation organised a range of outdoor and indoor activities to offer the opportunity for children to develop skills in activities including climbing, archery, football, swimming and rounders.
Coventry-based professional dance company, Kool Nerd Gang, were also on hand to deliver dance sessions, teaching hip-hop, street and break dance styles.
With teacher training days taking place throughout the year, many parents often find it difficult to organise suitable childcare.
Wendy Jackson, community development manager at the sports foundation, said the foundation has decided to launch the pilot programme – trialling it first with year six pupils from Finham Park Primary School.
She added: “It gave the year group the opportunity to have an active day away from school with benefits for both working and non-working parents.
“Activities were organised between 9am and 3pm to reflect a typical school day causing little disruption to the daily routine.
“A whole host of activities were provided and the children really enjoyed taking part in sports and classes that they don’t always get to experience during their usual school routine.
“The pilot programme proved a great success and was popular with both parents and pupils, and we are therefore now looking to provide similar activity programmes on teacher training days in the future.”
Finham primary school Mum April Carney-Dalton, whose daughter Kayleigh, aged 10, attended the activity day, said it was a real benefit for both parents and their youngsters.
She added: “In a nutshell, having something like this on a teacher training day is invaluable to working parents, as there are no alternative options for childcare on these days.”
