They will also need to develop and implement programmes that give priority to regular quality physical activity and develop movement skills, especially in Years 1 to 6.

To meet the challenge, the ministry and Sport and Recreation New Zealand developed a strategy to help teachers view physical activity in a more holistic way than just teaching sports techniques. Under a pilot programme developed over the past two years, advisers in primary physical education from the Christchurch College of Education have worked on new approaches to teaching physical education.

Adviser Brent Gray said instead of the teacher talking about the rules of a particular sport, children were encouraged to think about the social and mental sides of physical activity. "We also want to show there is more to recreation than just playing sport and it is possible to get physical activity without being really good at sport," he said. Lessons started with a game, then the teacher and pupils discussed the skills necessary to play. "This approach is also better for the primary school teacher as it takes away the pressure of having to be an expert," Gray said.

Julian Falloon, of Sport Canterbury, said staff were looking at ways to provide extra-curricular activities for pupils before and after school and at lunchtime. They were also facilitating links between schools and local providers and clubs to encourage activity outside school.

GetKidsActive.com creator and head of staff Craig Kemp believes that children and their parents are now starting to realise that there are so many ways they can be active, and so much they can do to improve skills. If you want some ideas on how to keep children active and ideas for teachers please don’t hesitate to contact us here on craig@getkidsactive.com – Craig also has many unit and lesson plan ideas for teachers and for schools the GKA fitness program is available!