How The Daily Mile works in practice

Article title: How The Daily Mile works in practice: A process evaluation in a UK primary school.

Research conducted by Jennifer Harris (Senior Child Physiotherapist and Pre-doctoral Fellow) and Associate Professors, Dr Gary Mountain and Dr Linda Milnes, University of Leeds, examined implementation factors, mechanisms of impact and contextual factors instrumental to the implementation of The Daily Mile in a primary school.

They concluded that with systematic organisation and planning, The Daily Mile has potential to be an integrated means of increasing physical activity. Recommendations include:

  • Enrolment of local implementation leads and support network
  • Engagement with wider community
  • Preparation of suitable track and access routes
  • Appropriate timetabling of intervention launch
  • Goal setting and class reflection on strategies to cooperate within a physical environment
  • ‘Buddy systems’ and modelling of positive attitudes
  • Small incentives to maintain sense of purpose
  • Implement within broader context of health promotion

Read the full article online, published in the Journal of Child Health Care on 9th October 2019.