Pencoed Primary School, South East Wales
“The children with ADHD are able to concentrate on the task at hand without need for a movement break for at least another 30 minutes.”

At Pencoed Primary School, we have been doing The Daily Mile for 10 years with a break for COVID when we moved to the new school building. We do The Daily Mile around our school playground and astroturf.

We recently rejunvinated our Daily Mile at our newer school premises. Our Yr 3-6 Moderate Learning resource base uses The Daily Mile at the beginning of the day. At first it was hard work to stick to the routine but we soon got motivated and it has become habit. Year 3-4 use it before lunch at the end of the morning. They struggled to find time and then realised they had spare time before lunch. As they were winding down from tasks the poor behaviour would start. The Daily Mile has stopped this.

Explaining to staff it doesn’t have to be a flat out mile and is just a 15 min run/walk has had an impact by making it more accessible.

The impact on the MLD base has been huge. The children are calmer and ready to learn when they return to class. The children with ADHD are able to concentrate on the task at hand without need for a movement break for at least another 30 minutes. The behaviour in other classes has also improved. Children and calmer and ready to learn. Fitness levels of pupils and staff have increased. Some children started with a walk run strategy and most of these children are now able to run for a full 10 mins.

A child in MLD base who has ADHD has explained how it helps him get his energy out and settled before he starts his learning. Another child in the same class has poor mobility and communication. He is losing weight, moves easier and always says “1 more” when we do our laps of the astro. A child in Year 3 enjoys The Daily Mile so much he went to parkrun with his dad. His first parkrun was just over 20 mins! Staff members are saying it sets them up for the day as they know they have got their daily total well under way before 9:30 in the morning. They also enjoy the chance to chat with the children.

If a child is unsettled or upset they find it easier to talk to an adult while they are walking. We have a walk and talk policy for anyone who needs to talk to someone. This works for adults too as we recognise they may have something bothering them. By getting it sorted first thing we are free to concentrate on the learning when we return to class.

We have used The Daily Mile during half term’s to raise money for school and get parents and families moving. We did a Run Your Age Challenge and families were invited to run, walk, swim, scoot, ride their age and gain sponsorship. We rasied 6000 and got families moving when they would not normally do so. We have linked this with the Mini London Marathon, especially when I have run in London myself. This has culimnated with the whole school being able to raise money for a local mental health charity that supports our school with free therapy for staff, parents and children. We all got to have a spotty t shirt from the charity and run under thier finishing arch at the end of the run.

Some quotes from pupils:

I like doing it because when I wake up I have loads of energy and this helps me burn some energy. Pupil
It makes me feel good. Pupil
I feel happy with the Daily Mile. Pupil
Sometimes I am really tired and it makes me energised. Pupil
I like to do the Daily Mile with my friends. Pupil
It is exercise and exercise is good for you. Pupil
When I am tired it gives me energy. Pupil
It is good to burst off energy and bursting off energy is good for your health. Pupil
It makes me feel ready to work. Pupil
I feel in the Green Zone (Zones of Regulation) when I run. Pupil with ASD and Epilepsy.