PUPILS at St Michael’s in Minehead have been starting the school day with 15 minutes of fun exercises and songs.

They are taking part in the Wake and Shake initiative organised by 1610 and the Get Set Go programme for schools in West Somerset to boost their levels of fitness and learning.

According to NHS statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet, one in five pupils in Reception year in the UK are overweight or obese and the figure increases to one in three by the time the children reach year six.

Under Government guidelines, all children and young people aged five to 18 should engage in moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 60 minutes each day to improve their health.

Swim and sports development manager for 1610 Suzanne Richards, who helps organise the Wake and Shake sessions, said that they are proving to be a great success;

“We offer a 15-minute activity where we do three songs with the children and we take their heart rate up and down during the activity. Then, with the last song, we focus on balance, breathing and stretching.”

Head of PE at St Michael’s, Karen Mills-Bown said Wake and Shake was part of the mix of sports and activities that the children receive at the school but starting the school day in this way has real benefits for the pupils.