TEST Valley residents are being urged to keep their children fit with a school exercise scheme.

The Test Valley School Games programme, hosted by The Mountbatten School in Romsey, provides opportunities for students across more than 50 schools in the Test Valley region to develop their physical health and their mental health.

Due to covid-19 restrictions, Holly Shirley, the Test Valley school games organiser (SGO), and the other 14 Hampshire SGO's have created the #HSGDailyChallenge initiative to help keep kids active in their own homes.

Mountbatten School teacher, Holly, said our schools and teachers are under a lot of pressure at the moment, trying their best to continue teaching their students via home learning, and also providing safe secure environments for the key worker children. 

As detailed by the Chief Medical Officer, schools have a responsibility to provide 30 minutes of physical activity for their students, and this is even more important during the coronavirus crisis.

The Hampshire SGO's are helping to keep kids active.

Holly said: "We are really pleased with the numbers participating in the #HSGDailyChallenge, but there are a lot of students and schools that we are still yet to reach.

"It would be fantastic to engage more students from the Test Valley area, both the Primary Schools and the Secondary Schools, and hopefully via support from our local media we will be able to engage more.

"Not all aspects of exercise is enjoyed by all, but there is something out there for everyone.

"The #HSGDailyChallenge has been created with this in mind, the challenges are simple and fun to do.

"They are not about competition, just participation, the only person the students are competing against is themselves - can they achieve their personal best?"

On top of this, every child that participates gets a point for their school and once the current crisis has passed there will be awards for the highest participation rates. 

Holly added: The challenges get sent to schools via email on a weekly basis, then on a daily basis, the challenges are released on social media platforms for all to see, including video tutorials."

Youth Sport Trust School Games Organiser, Claire Wallace "It is clear to me that all Hampshire SGOs have quickly shifted to working on the new SGO programme.

"They are engaged in an excellent initiative engaging both young people still in school and those at home - #HSGDailyChallenge.

"What is happening across Hampshire has received press coverage and national attention. Fantastic."

The quickest way of getting involved is visiting Hampshire School Games Organisers (SGOs) Facebook page - all of the information is on there - or email holly.shirley@mountbatten.hants.sch.uk