BBC cameras visited a Helsby primary school to film pupils who now run, jog or walk a mile every day.

The One Show sent presenter Alex Riley along to Horn’s Mill Primary School to find out about the scheme aiming to get children healthier and tackle obesity.

Alex jogged a mile alongside an excited Horn’s Mill Year 5 class who have been piloting the project.

The Daily Mile, which is being launched at six primary schools across Cheshire West, gets pupils out of the classroom and their heart rates up for 15 minutes each day of the week.

Teacher Hayley Martin told the show: “I find it’s been really positive.

“When they come back they’ve blown off a bit of steam, cleared their mind and then they are back in ready to do what’s asked of them.”

Poor weather is never an excuse and the teacher chooses what time the class gets up and running.

The One Show presenter Alex Riley with pupils from Horn's Mill Primary School in Helsby

The Daily Mile first began in Scotland and a partnership between Active Cheshire, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group has brought it south.

Upton Heath C of E Primary, Shocklach Oviatt CE Primary, Clutton C of E Primary, Rossmore Primary in Little Sutton and Brookside Primary in Ellesmere Port are the other schools taking part.

'Outstanding initiative'

Active Cheshire strategic lead for education Duncan Setterington said it was an ‘outstanding initiative’.

He said: “We are really excited about the huge impact this simple and effective programme is having on young people, improving their health and wellbeing for the rest of their lives.

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“This partnership is unique in its approach to working alongside schools to support the development of an active culture and environment in education settings to improve a range of outcomes for children.

“The Daily Mile is perfectly aligned to our organisational mission of getting 50,000 more people, more active, more often.”

Primary schools across the borough have the chance to join The Daily Mile for the three years the project will be running.

CWaC cabinet member for culture, leisure and wellbeing Louise Gittins said: “CWaC are keen to help our children and young people be healthier.

Cllr Louise Gittins of Little Neston and Burton ward
CWaC cabinet member for culture, leisure and wellbeing Louise Gittins

“We are pleased to be one of the partners delivering the Daily Mile initiative across primary schools.

“Starting Well is a priority area within our health and wellbeing Strategy and this exciting initiative will help deliver the outcomes within the strategy by tackling childhood obesity and improving health and wellbeing through physical activity.”

Judging from the positive comments from the Horn’s Mill class the mile has gone down well with pupils too.

West Cheshire CCG chief executive Alison Lee said: “Improving the health and wellbeing of our children and young people and promoting a healthy lifestyle is a cornerstone of the West Cheshire Way’s Starting Well programme.

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“The West Cheshire Way is centred around promoting self-care and empowering people of all ages to take the right steps to take more control of their own health and wellbeing.

“Engaging the children of West Cheshire in The Daily Mile will have a hugely positive impact on their own health and wellbeing for many years to come.”

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