Exercise as a regular part of the day

Every week, 17 community sports coordinators and more than 60 sports students are ready at the 25 child centres to make exercise a natural part of daily life. From toddlers to Year 8: short exercise breaks, active lessons and playful forms of exercise are used everywhere.

The collaboration with the permanent partners — Mosalira, Kom Leren, MIK & Spelenderwijs, Samen Spelen, JOGG GGD, Fontys Sport & Bewegen, Vista College and Maastricht Vitale Stad — provides a strong foundation. The approach is also attracting national attention: KC Manjefiek was recently nominated for the Active School Award, and the programme is regarded as an inspiring example.

Interim evaluation: confidence in the approach

During the three-year interim evaluation of the agreement (2022–2027), all partners expressed their desire to continue and further strengthen the approach. The main points are:

  • Extend the agreement by ten years.
  • Continue working with a tailored approach for each child centre.
  • Further strengthen the connection with the neighbourhood.
  • Pay more attention to culture, mental resilience and special education.
  • Expand the approach to secondary education through Healthy Secondary Education in Motion.

Children get more exercise than the European average

The latest monitoring, carried out with Fontys Move to Be, shows that children in Maastricht are clearly more active:

  • An average of 75 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per school day (European average: 55 minutes).
  • The percentage of children scoring below the national average in motor skills fell to 10.5%.
  • During school hours, children exercise for 24–33 minutes per day.
  • After school, they exercise for an average of 45 minutes.
  • Teachers and pupils notice more energy, better concentration and a more pleasant atmosphere in the classroom.

By linking the programme to the Rich School Day and school meals, it is developing into a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

Building a healthy generation together

The results show that the joint effort really does make a difference. In the coming years, Maastricht Sport and its partners will continue working towards a healthy, active and opportunity-rich environment in which all children in Maastricht can grow up.

Want to know more about Healthy Child Centre in Motion? Click here.