Activity levels are higher than we have seen since the Active Lives Survey began back in 2017 although there is still plenty of work to do.
There has been a small increase in activity levels last year by gender:
Over the last year boys activity levels have risen +1.1% to 52% for 2024/25 (up from 47% in 2017/18)
For girls the last year actviity levels have increased by +1.6% in the lasyt year to 46% (up from 40% since 2017/18)
This is good news although context here is important as more than half of young people aren’t active enough:
- 49% of children are meeting the CMO guidelines of 60 minutes PA activity daily.
- While the proportion of children who are less active is lower than before (-1.1%) 28.4% reflects the number of children who are less active across an average of 30 minutes per day
- With the remaining 22.5% of children saying they are fairly active
Children and young people from mixed backgrounds are least likely to be active and those with two or more characterisitics of inequality
Sport England have highlighted that there is a positive association between physical literacy and activity level in the 2024-25 Active Lives Children and Young People Survey results. Physical literacy is our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life.
Why is physical literacy significant?
The survey covers positive attitudes towards:
– Positive and meaningful relationships
– Learning and development
– Positive experience
The report shares examples of positive associations between Physical literacy and activity levels. Amongst the report there are 13 pages dedicated to physical literacy, emphasising the importance of nurturing children’s relationships to foster positive and meaningful early experiences with sport and physical activity.
“Children and young people with more attitudes indicating they were doing well (learning and development), feeling good (a positive relationship with movement), and feeling included and having opportunities to be active (positive experiences) also had higher mental well-being, as well as stronger individual and community development”
At North Yorkshire Sport physical literacy concepts are informing our decision making. From how we capture youth voice, to policy and practice in schools, youth engagement and community work in places of interest. While increasing physical activity levels are important, our way of working is less focused on measuring daily active minutes but more so on how we consider the circumstances, places and spaces where inequality is most prevalent.
We want to create carefully considered opportunities to ensure children and young people have positive early experiences of all thing’s movement, activity and sport. Our mindset is that the focus must be on the quality of the opportunities provided in order to shift the dial on increasing daily levels of physical activity. Considering and listening to how children connect, think and feel is crucial to increasing positive attitudes. If we provide experiences that build on what children value, we will be creating the right conditions for more movement through inspiring meaning, value and enjoyment.
Interested in finding out more about the survey results or our work on physical literacy? Click the links below:
CYP Active Lives Survey 2024/25 report
Physical literacy at North Yorkshire Sport
