A Stirling primary school'’s unique approach to children'’s fitness and tackling childhood obesity has attracted national and international praise from healthcare experts.

A Stirling primary school'’s unique approach to children'’s fitness and tackling childhood obesity has attracted national and international praise from healthcare experts.

St Ninian'’s Primary School pioneered the Daily Mile three and half years ago. The whole school, from nursery to P7, run or walk a mile each day around the school’s track, which is affectionately known as the Yellow Brick Road. Since then, many other areas, including Borders Council, have followed suit.

Last week the school’s headteacher, Elaine Wyllie, presented the initiative to medical health improvers from around the world at the annual Institute of Healthcare Improvement conference, on behalf of 100 Million Healthier Lives. In her keynote speech, the chief executive of the organisation described the Daily Mile as an exemplary way of transforming children’s health and wellbeing. Elaine also recently gave a presentation on the initiative at a Raising Attainment for All event.

She said: “The children run or walk one mile, or 15 minutes, every day, in almost all weather. There is no need for equipment or even a change of clothes, and there have been clear improvements in their fitness and focus in the classroom. They come back in from their Daily Mile red-cheeked and puffed-out, having exercised in the fresh air. The benefits are there for all to see.

“The school nurse recently reported that there are no overweight P1s in the school. We think this could be because the children have been participating in the project since nursery.” The school'’s running club has enjoyed considerable success locally and nationally, and its numbers are growing all the time.

Head of Education David Leng added: “It’s great to see the children embracing this initiative. We’re hopeful it will become a lifelong habit and reinforce the many benefits of fitness.”