MEDIA RELEASE
Issued: March 23, 2016
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Hundreds of children benefit from the work of the West Essex Schools Sports Partnership
Hundreds of children across the Epping Forest district are getting into sport through the work of the West Essex Schools Sports Partnership which is spearheaded by two Davenant Foundation School-based teachers.
Marcus Cattell is the Partnership’s School Games Organiser who works with the 33 primary and infants schools and district’s six secondary schools which make up the Partnership.
Already since last September some 4,000 participants have taken part in the Partnership’s sports events across Epping Forest.
A Key Stage 1 event was recently held for primary and secondary school students with various sprint races, jumping events and relay and obstacle races at King Harold Academy.
Secondary school students - as sports leaders - are also involved in the events by helping with the staging of competitions.
Highlighting the benefits of the Partnership, Mr Cattell said: “It gives the students the opportunity to compete for their schools against other schools.
"A lot of the funding comes from the Department of Health and helps with our work to help reduce obesity among children.â€
He added: “The kids enjoy the opportunity to compete and it also shows them how to develop a healthy lifestyle.
“They can work in teams learning how to win or lose.
"A few of the events are individual and teaches them how they can win on their own, respecting the opposition and the officials and it also teaches them the core values which I really stress - team work, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.
“The kids get to meet each other, and it is good for their transition from primary school to secondary school.â€
The Partnership also involves special needs children who are the focus of Gill Newlyn, the Youth Sports Trust’s lead inclusion co-ordinator who is also based at Davenant Foundation School.
She said: “For some of the children sometimes coming to an event is the first time they have been selected to represent their school.
“It gives them the opportunity to realise that sport should be fully inclusive.â€
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