Golden times at Pye Bank

Golden times at Pye Bank Story by Tania Marsden and Steve Barnard | Photography by Tania Marsden

Olympic champions Jessica EnnisHill and Nicola Adams took time out from their busy training schedules to meet children from Pye Bank C of E Primary School in support of healthy living programmes.

Jessica Ennis-Hill met Year 1 students at the ‘Road 2 Rio’ Mini Olympics in the English Institute of Sport in Attercliffe. She presented a trophy for their fantastic team spirit and inspired the children to become better athletes as she talked about how hard she trains.

Nicola Adams visited the school to launch ‘Get Set to Eat Fresh’, which encourages children to eat healthy, fresh food.

She said: “This is a fantastic initiative to get children making healthier choices and to think twice before picking up junk food.”

Ahmed Hussain, a six year old pupil at the school, said: “We’d all like to say a huge thank you to Nicola for visiting us. We’ll be doing lots of healthier and active projects soon and will be cheering on Team GB all the way to Rio.”

The school has also received a Big Lottery Fund grant to fund a project called ‘Learning Together, Learning to be Together’ which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of pupils and the community.

Miss Drake’s Year 4 class runs the ‘Golden Mile’ every morning after break-time. This is nine laps of the playground. She has noticed a positive effect on concentration in class, leading to better learning, greater drive, determination to do well and to beat their personal best. It has also improved class cohesion and working as a team.

The ‘Walk, Jog and Run Club’ every Wednesday morning is for all the children, their parents or carers, and encourages everyone to do the ‘Golden Mile’.

Other fun activities include the smoothie bike, Change 4 Life workshops, healthy snacking and ‘what’s in your lunchbox’. Interactive Zumba is held in the Sports Hall.

One Y4 pupil commented: “This was amazing, we danced to music and got fit at the same time”.

‘Learning together, Learning to be together’ has given the children sporting opportunities by creating links with Arches School Sport Partnership, Sheffield United Football Club, Sheffield Sharks, Sheffield Wednesday Ladies Football Club, Trampoline Central and Sheffield Eagles.

Each half term every child has the opportunity to attend the free lunch and after school club. These clubs offer activities like creative dance, gymnastics, table tennis, futsal, handball, tag rugby and trampolining.