A SCHEME to encourage children to be more healthy has got off to a flying start in schools in Deane, Derby and Daubhill.

Children as young as four are being encouraged to drop the junk food and develop a healthier lifestyle thanks to a partnership formed between the council's Leisure Service Health and Fitness Team and the community nutritionists at Bolton NHS Trust.

As part of the Stay Well, Stay Active, Stay Healthy scheme, four to 16-year-olds will get advice on exercise, nutrition and healthy living.

The scheme kicked off at the start of term with top class children from St Mary's, St Ethelbert's, Sunning Hill and Clarendon primary schools taking part in health lessons and visits to the Excel Centre.

Principal health and fitness development officer at the council's Leisure Services, Malcolm McPhail, is delighted the scheme has finally started.

He said: "We want to get kids in to good habits at an early age. Organisers also want to actively encourage both children and their parents to develop healthier lifestyles. A recent survey discovered only 35pc of children have breakfast before going to school."

He added: "We're very excited by the project at the moment and hopefully all the school children in the 3Ds should benefit from it.

"So far the children have been really enjoying it. They've been jumping about and enjoying the fitness side but realise they have to be serious about the education side of things too."

The team also want to encourage parents to introduce children to a healthy lifestyle from an early age.

Children and their parents will be given advice and information on exercise, drugs and sex education as well as nutritional information at school.

They will also be transported on a regular basis to the Excel Centre on Manchester Road to take part in further classes.

The second phase of the scheme will start in April with five-year-olds from Haslam Park County Primary school. The team also hope to introduce it to secondary schools in May.

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