Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosureofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared;

 

Councillor M Durke – Agenda Item 4 – Personal - Myself and Dr Nalda Wainwright are both employees of University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared;

 

Councillor M Durke – Agenda Item 4 – Personal - Myself and Dr Nalda Wainwright are both employees of University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved

Resolved that the minutes of the Education & Skills Policy Development Committee held on 15 December 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

For Information

The Chair welcomed Dr Nalda Wainwright, a leading authority in Wales on children’s health and physical literacy to the meeting.

 

Dr Nalda Wainwright then gave a brief overview of her background and experience in the subject area, and gave a detailed and informative powerpoint presentation to members.

 

Included in the presentation were the following areas:

·       decline in physical activity across society;

·       definition of physical literacy;

·       development process for activity from toddlers to pensioners;

·       children are moving less now than in the past and the various reasons and factors of modern lift that impact on this;

·       increase and availability of technology for young children and its impact on reducing outside activity and play;

·       lack of outdoor activity, play and mixing with other children of different ages and its negative impact on children’s development both physically and mentally which can cause issues with cognitive aspects and speech etc;

·       motor development mountain – and movement vocabulary and development;

·       positive/negative spiral of engagement and the effects and relationships between the lack of activity and ill health going forward in later life;

·       links between motor competence and physical activity and its impact and importance in rising the perceived physical competence in young children, particularly those under the age of 7;

·       high/scope Perry Preschool Project in the USA and its findings relating to both the financial and social benefits received, compared to the amount invested, which could be up to a sevenfold benefit;

·       SKIP Cymru(Successful Kinaesthetic Instruction for Pre-schoolers in Wales) – early years/foundation phase based initiative that has proved to benefit and develop young children’s motor skills;

·       Welsh Government report on Physical Activity of Children & Young People which has been agreed but not yet rolled out across the country due to Covid pandemic.

 

David Jones, spoke further to his circulated report which provided the committee with an overview of the purpose of the sport and health team in relation to partnerships and shared outcomes with education colleagues with a view to developing further strategic links.

 

He indicated he supported the comments and initiatives outlined by Dr Nalda Wainwright above.

 

He outlined the background details and main policies and influences that the team follows in Swansea whilst delivering its services to people across the various age ranges and communities. He referred to the funding received from Sport Wales.

 

The services operational strategy which aims to create an active and healthy Swansea was outlined at appendix a to the report.

 

He indicated that the staff are committed to improving and expanding physical literacy across the board, and indicated that the staff particularly enjoy the sessions with the young people and encouraging them to get involved for all the reasons outlined during the previous presentation and detailed in the report. He outlined that he has staff qualified in Physical Literacy courses run by the University of Wales Trinity St David.

 

He detailed the skills, experiences, qualifications and knowledge the staff have, which enables them to deliver a wide range of sessions to the whole community and also outlined that the team offers whole school staff and community volunteer training in aspects of physical literacy and generic sport and physical activity.

 

He detailed that often in schools, staff will target and specifically encourage young people who aren’t involved in the ‘traditional’ school sports teams to get involved and participate.

 

He outlined that the team is involved with over 90 schools in Swansea, and outlined the success of the School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP) and referred to the excellent results and positive feedback received from a survey of young people who had taken part in the scheme (appendix b to the report).

 

Members asked various questions and made comments regarding both areas covered during the presentation and circulated report, to which Dr Wainwright, the Officer responded accordingly.

 

The Chair indicated he had seen some similar evidence in a scrutiny meeting to that referred to in the study from the USA above. He would try and source the information and circulate to members if possible.

 

He thanked Dr Wainwright, and the officer for their input and attendance at the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noted

The Chair referred to the workplan as outlined and detailed in the report and indicated the items for the upcoming meetings:

February – Adverse Childhood Experiences

March – Outdoor Education

 

Resolved that the workplan be noted.