Children & Young People Newsletter March 2026
Teach Active and Everyday Active Schools
- 55 Schools supported with a Teach Active subscription since 2023
- 667 Teachers upskilled via in-person or online training or CPD
- 5,106 Active Lessons accessed or downloaded
- 12,901 Pupils positively impacted by active Maths and English lessons
“We’re incredibly privileged to partner with Active Kent & Medway, supporting schools to embed physically active learning into the heart of the curriculum, positively impacting thousands of children across Kent and Medway.” Jon Smedley, Managing Director, Teach Active
Sunguarding Schools Launch
Melanoma Fund has launched Sunguarding® Schools, a new KS2 Quality-Marked, curriculum-aligned lesson that equips children with the skills to protect themselves in the sun. Every summer, thousands of children experience preventable sunburn, damage that can double their lifetime risk of melanoma. Yet sun and heat protection are rarely taught as practical life skills in primary education.
The lesson is accurate and age-appropriate; inclusive and accessible, with SEND considerations built in; one-hour lesson format, designed to fit existing timetables; flexible delivery across PSHE, wellbeing, PE and outdoor learning; supports duty of care during warmer months, outdoor activity and educational visits.
Free Teacher Training Opportunities
Schools Cricket and PE Training
The Kent Cricket Foundation is delighted to offer a FREE Cricket and PE CPD Day for both Primary and Secondary school staff. The formal CPD course has been developed by Chance to Shine and the Youth Sports Trust, with the PE National Curriculum at its heart and delivered by qualified tutors from our Coach Development Team and Community Coaches, who deliver cricket in schools year-round. The course is aimed at giving staff the knowledge and confidence to deliver cricket within their school.
- Friday 24 April (10am-3pm) at St Lawerence Ground, Old Dover Road, Canterbrury, CT1 3NZ.
Follow this link to register for the FREE Schools Cricket Training Day
Everyday Active Schools Workshop
The Everyday Active Schools programme, delivered by Active Kent & Medway, is designed to increase children’s physical activity levels by taking a whole school approach to embedding physical activity across the school day. The FREE programme involves an initial on-boarding workshop for all primary school staff, leading to a bespoke action plan to work towards, whilst receiving ongoing support, resources and progress meetings.
Follow this link to book a FREE Everyday Active Schools Workshop
We caught up with Shorne Church of England Primary School who completed their free workshop and now embrace the Everyday Active Schools:
School Sports Opportunities
Basketball England Slam Jam
Basketball England’s grassroots basketball programme Slam Jam, designed for children aged between 5-11 years, is back, renewed and improved for 2026. This year, the programme is better than ever, with equipment packs put together with schools and clubs in mind.
Created by basketball and educational experts, the programme gives children a great first experience of basketball – helping them develop all the basic skills and techniques to understand and enjoy the game.
Photo credit: Basketball England
Schools Cricket Day
To celebrate 50 days until the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is inviting schools across the country to be part of Schools Cricket Day on Thursday 23 April 2026. Primary, secondary, SEND and ALN schools are invited to take part.
The aim is to embed cricket, and specifically the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, across the curriculum throughout the day, allowing children to participate in cricket-related activities, learn about the tournament and inspire a love of the game.
Photo credit: Kent Cricket
TCS Mini London Marathon
TCS Mini London Marathon in Schools 2026 is back and bigger than ever. Your school can take part at any time between Monday 23 February 2026 and Friday 1 May 2026
When you register, your school will receive:
• A digital Participant Guide to help plan your event
• A trophy for your school
• A full digital toolkit including certificates, finish tape, bunting, posters and educational resources.
• Access to The Body Coach Foundation Activity Pack.
• A chance to win a visit from Joe Wicks, the Body Coach.
Photo credit: TCS Mini London Marathon
Blog: Mental Health and Belonging
Last month’s Children’s Mental Health Week, invited us to reflect on the importance of place – the physical and emotional spaces where young people feel safe, connected and valued.
In his recent blog, Daniel Bromley, our Children and Young People Development Officer, explored how movement can help children feel happier, healthier and more connected, wherever their ‘place’ might be. Drawing on our work across schools and communities, he highlights how small, everyday opportunities to be active can make a big difference to young people’s mental wellbeing. A must read for anyone looking for practical ideas, examples and insight into why movement matters to children’s mental health.
Active Uniforms
Ever wondered about the impact of school uniforms on pupils’ physical activity levels? One Head Teacher and one researcher teamed up to find out…
As teachers, you’re always looking for ways to improve pupils learning environment and support their overall well-being. One innovative approach gaining traction is the introduction of active uniforms for primary aged children – a shift from traditional school uniform to comfortable, movement-friendly clothing that encourages physical activity throughout the school day.
At St Michael’s CE Junior School in Aldershot, a bold decision to introduce active uniforms has sparked a shift in how students experience activity at school. Could active uniforms be a game-changer for your school too?
Other News
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