Active School Flag is a Department of Education initiative supported by Healthy Ireland and part of the National Physical Activity Plan. Children and young people need at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. This benefits their physical skill development, agility and co-ordination, energy levels and sleeping patterns, improved mood and self-esteem, along with healthy growth and development both emotionally, cognitively and socially.
The ASF initiative provides schools with a framework to guide, support and incentivise them to work towards achieving a physically educated and physically active school community. The process incentivises schools to engage in a process of self-reflection, action planning and collaboration at whole school level. ASF is an ambitious whole school process. In order to succeed, and to ensure that the benefits of ASF reach into every classroom, it is important that management and staff commit to support, promote and actively engage with the process. ASF encourages schools to strengthen their PE programmes and to promote physical literacy. A broad and balanced PE programme is essential, at all class levels, to ensure that students have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they require to live physically active lives.
Let's get moving!