ACES – All Children Exercise Simultaneously
| Description | Pupils from schools across Derbyshire exercise at the same time each year |
|---|---|
| Setting | Schools |
| Populationting | All school children in Derbyshire |
| Intervention summary | A variety of physical activities are organised across different schools |
| Outcome Summary | Over 17 500 children involved in 2005 and 2006 |
| Startup Cost | £10 Simply the cost of photocopying a flyer and posting out to all schools in an area. The total start-up costs were approximately £10 for 450 schools. |
| Running Cost | £100 each year Each year over 100 schools have been involved, with an approximate cost of £1 per school per annum. |
| Funding | The Derbyshire Health Promoting Schools Scheme fund the programme but it works out as approximately £1 per school for photocopying costs, sending out a manual of ideas etc. However, a manual is not required and the costs could be reduced even further if needed. |
| Started | 20 years ago in the USA, three years ago in Derbyshire |
| Ended | It is an ongoing annual event. |
| Location | Derbyshire, England |
| Contact |
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Background
Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) was started in 1989 by physical education teacher Len Saunders of New Jersey, USA. Len wanted to get one school in every state to exercise at the same time on a specific day in May to bring motivation to his physical education classes. The rest is history! The programme is growing and growing each year. This international event will include millions of children from schools in 50 countries who will be active in unison to promote the benefits of physical activity.
We won the first healthEX Major Moves Physical Activity Award for the "most innovative approach" in March 2006.
What is the problem you are trying to solve?
We aim to promote healthy lifestyles and the benefits of physical activity.
What local organisations are involved?
Individual schools get support from a range of other agencies according to their need. As the programme is flexible and schools undertake their ACES activities to suit them, each school can involve who they wish. Some schools have invited local fitness centres to lead an aerobics session, some have used sports instructors to do taster sessions and some have invited their local sports development officers in to school.
How many people are running this project and who are they?
The Health Promoting Schools coordinator coordinates the project
No other staff from the Health Promoting Schools team are involved as each school runs the activities within the school.
What local population are you targeting?
All school aged children. Some nurseries are involved also.
How many people are you targeting?
We had over 17 500 children and young people involved in Derbyshire in both 2005 and 2006, and we are hoping to get over 20 000 pupils in 2007. We are hoping that other areas will take on ACES and it will become a huge event nationally.
Interventions
What interventions are you using to address the problem?
On the first Wednesday in May each year at 10 am, children from schools across Derbyshire will exercise, walk, jog, bike, dance, do aerobics, or a combination. Each school organises its own participation event for the 15-45 minutes the programme runs (or longer if they wish). There is no specific routine to follow, the children just do some form of exercise at 10 am. Many schools choose to invite local celebrities to the event and play music to accompany the activities. Organisers of local events can choose to get the whole school involved, or just selected classes. The majority of schools will get the entire school population outside on to the field/playground, put on music, and have everyone in the school have some fun by moving and exercising together.
Is the project design based on evidence? If so, please state reference.
This project is not based on any specific evidence, as it is essentially a one off, and therefore goes against the available evidence. However, the positive feedback that we have had from schools about the event and the knock on effects within the schools, has meant that we have continued to support the project.
Outcome
What outcomes or planned outcomes are you measuring?
We measure the numbers of schools and pupils taking part in the event each year, and the long term impact of the event, such as changes to timetabling and planning to include more physical activity in schools.
Do you have any outcomes or results yet? If so, what are they?
We had over 17 500 children and young people involved in both 2005 and 2006. This is only a small percentage of the school children in Derbyshire (less than 20%), so we are aiming to increase this figure every year.
Is your project relevant to a government target or guideline?
Public Service Agreement 3: To halt the year on year rise in obesity among children under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole 1 .
Feedback
What obstacles did you have to overcome to set up this project?
This project was simple, quick and cheap to set up. A simple A4 flyer was sent to all schools and returned to demonstrate a commitment to the event. We also send schools a manual of ideas which includes games and activities that schools may wish to take part in. The time commitment is very small considering the number of schools and pupils involved.
What have you learned about the project so far?
Whilst one off interventions are not considered to be good practice, this event does focus schools on physical activity and has had a long term impact. Some schools have introduced daily or weekly activity sessions for pupils as a result of ACES. Some have allowed music to be played in the playground to encourage children (girls in particular) to dance.
What would you do differently?
The project is very popular with schools as it is so flexible: each school does exactly what fits best with them. This is possibly its best selling point. Trying to change the event would simply complicate it and potentially make it less popular with schools.