Home PE classes to be launched for primary aged children

A new series of online physical education classes for primary school children in Kerry, is being launched under Kerry County Council’s ‘Keep Well Kerry’ initiative.

From Thursday February 11, children in classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class can log on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 20 minute sessions provided by a PE Teacher.

The aim is to offer the opportunity and support to children and parents to maintain physical activity levels and skills, while home-schooling, during COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions.

The initiative was launched in response to feedback from the community and a need to provide some sort of a physical activity programme for school aged children. As a result, Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership have partnered with The Education Centre Tralee and Active Kingdom to collectively roll out the ‘PE at Home’ programme, with the support of Sport Ireland and Healthy Kerry.

Jimmy Deenihan, Chairperson of the Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership explained that the programme will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two age groupings – Junior to Second Class from 11am – 11.20am, and Third to Sixth Class from 11.30am – 11.50am. Each participant will receive a live PE session twice a week for four weeks.

“This is a great way for children to keep active and to keep well while restrictions are in place,” he said.

“Physical activity can help young people’s cognitive function and their attention. So a short bout of activity is a great way to break up periods of schoolwork or screen use, and help them focus on their work.”

Those who would like to take part can register now on www.edcentretralee.ie/news.html and through the link on Kerry County Council’s social media channels.

The ‘Keep Well’ campaign is a national programme aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and well-being by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. The programme is being coordinated locally by Kerry County Council and many local partners.