New sports challenge in the Isle

Youngsters from across the Isle will be lacing up their trainers for a first sports venture for primary pupils this month.
North Lindsey College Children's University dayNorth Lindsey College Children's University day
North Lindsey College Children's University day

A Children’s University Sports Day will take place on May 31 and will be free to all those participating.

But there will be far more than the traditional running races or egg and spoon at the North Lindsey College event. Thirty minute fun activities to test youngsters’ abilities will include zorbing, parachute games, strength and conditioning, street dance, lacrosse, cricket, netball, disc golf and a British cycling obstacle course.

Children from age three years can join in the parachute games, and those aged five years and up can do strength and conditioning. Otherwise, the activities are geared towards those from age seven.

Schools can choose up to four activities in time slots between 10am to noon, and 1pm to 3pm. There will be additional walk around activities on the day for both parents and children that will include health testing and fitness testing.

The Children’s University scheme was opened at North Lindsey College only weeks ago, as part of a national initiative to raise the aspirations of young people.

Children are awarded credits for taking part in activities including after-school clubs, sports clubs and museum visits. The credits are logged in a ‘passport’ and children aim to gather enough credits in order to ‘graduate’.

Sonia Czabaniuk, who successfully applied for funding from the SSE Keadby Wind Farm Community Fund to help kickstart the project said: ““The Children’s University model mimics the pathways found in higher education and the project will raise aspirations and broaden the horizons of North Axholme children by rewarding them for participation in after-school activities and encourage them to take responsibility for their own out-of-school learning.”

Events that have taken place so far have been well attended with Isle pupils taking part.

Schools that are involved with the Children’s University project within the Isle of Axholme include The Axholme Academy, Althorpe and Keadby Primary School, Crowle Primary Academy, Eastoft Church of England Primary School, Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School and St Norbert’s Catholic Primary Academy.