Guidance
Introduction
Introduction
The Department of Health (DH) asked NICE to produce public health guidance on physical activity, play and sport for pre-school and school-age children in family, pre-school, school and community settings.
The guidance is for all those who have a direct or indirect role in – and responsibility for – promoting physical activity for children and young people. This includes those working in the NHS, education, local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It will also be of interest to parents, grandparents and other carers (including professional carers), children and young people and other members of the public. It includes recommendations for schools, but does not make recommendations for the national curriculum.
The recommendations relate to all children and young people up to the age of 18, including those with a medical condition or disability (except where clinical assessment or monitoring is required prior to and/or during physical activity). The guidance does not cover specialised services for children and young people with a disability. There is a specific focus on children aged 11 and under and girls aged 11 to 18.
The guidance complements and supports, but does not replace, NICE guidance on obesity, physical activity, physical activity and the environment, depression among children and young people and social and emotional wellbeing in schools.
The Programme Development Group (PDG) developed these recommendations on the basis of reviews of the evidence, an economic analysis, expert advice, stakeholder comments and fieldwork.
Members of the PDG are listed in appendix A. The methods used to develop the guidance are summarised in appendix B. Supporting documents used to prepare this document are listed in appendix E. Full details of the evidence collated, including fieldwork data and activities and stakeholder comments, along with a list of the stakeholders involved and NICE's supporting process and methods manuals are also available.