Beyond Jonny's story

Introduction
Previously (2016), the authors Howells and Bowen were inspired by Collingwood et al’s (2000) proposal that physical exercise can raise self-esteem and they investigated the potential impact of physical activity interventions for one case study child (Jonny) on his self-esteem and reading and numeracy academic levels. They found that Jonny had significant improvements to both his self-esteem and academic achievements.
In 2017, the researchers are extending ‘beyond Jonny’s story’ to investigate if there are any opportunities and challenges in communication and working as a team through undertaking a new daily physical activity interventions of the ‘The Daily Mile’ (The Daily Mile Foundation, 2017). The case study class currently find it challenging to communicate and work together. In Holland and Scotland schools have already been undertaking a school running initiative of ‘The Daily Mile’, which includes children walking, running and jogging a mile a day within the school environments, playgrounds and fields. A mile a day has also been recommended within the recent Childhood Obesity Strategy (HM Government, 2016) as a way to encourage children to move to increase positive attitudes towards movement.

Methods
This paper will report on the whole class and the academic levels in numeracy and literacy, levels of communication, levels in team working. The paper will also report on the time taken to complete the daily mile and the attitudes and observations of the children towards movement and physical activity.

Results and Conclusion
The data is currently in collection, it will be analysed on a 6 weekly basis to show the children and class teacher their results and to analyse with the children how they feel about the results. How if any changes in their attitude towards movement and physical activity and in particular if there are any differences according to gender will also be reported.