Adding movement to the school day requires changes in the school premises, official and unofficial rules, values and attitudes. What kind of school encourages children to be physically active? How should the activities be organised? How can the change in the school culture be monitored, supported and managed?
The Schools on the Move activities shape the school community as increasing movement requires changes in established routines. In successful models, a change in the school culture benefits the school community in many ways.
“At best, physical activity does not cause any extra noise. Children should be taught to engage in physical activity without running riot. It takes time at first, but hard work will be rewarded!” – a teacher, primary school
For example, opportunities for physical activity can be created by modifying the structures of the school day and the rules and by influencing the attitudes. The development work starts by assessing the initial situation.
In the Schools on the Move programme, studies on the culture change have been conducted in more than one thousand Finnish schools.
The tool for assessing the current state has been developed in the Schools on the Move programme and can be used for monitoring the realisation of the different areas of the activity. The assessment has been completed by 1,687 Finnish schools (about 80% of the schools registered in the programme).
Staff in the schools find the Schools on the Move activities useful from the point of view of school enjoyment and the peaceful working atmosphere.
