A PROGRAMME to improve sport in Huddersfield schools is enjoying great success.
The School Sport Co-ordinator Partnership, led by Newsome High School and Sports College, was set up earlier this year.
Cash from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund was used to boost the three-year project.
Huddersfield Nuffield Hospital has also helped by pledging £12,000 over three years.
The aim is to encourage more children into sporting activities, both in and out of school.
Newsome High works with three other high schools, two middle schools, one special school and 29 primary schools to raise standards of PE and provide new sports clubs.
Four co-ordinators are involved in the project and so far, they have been successful.
Brenda Hilton, partnership development manager, said: "We have many examples of exciting new initiatives which are getting lots of new youngsters into sport. The partnership is already having considerable success."
Some of the work done by the project includes providing schools in the Shelley area with coaching sessions by Emley Amateur Rugby League Club and Longley Tennis Club opening up their indoor facilities for pupils of Longley School.
New girls' evening netball clubs have been created at Shelley High School and Rawthorpe High School, which have attracted huge interest.
Girls and their mums have also got a new aerobics club at Mount Pleasant Junior School.
Parents have been encouraged to help with school PE lessons and sports clubs and have been given training to help them do this.
Primary school teachers are also being given extra training in PE teaching and planning, as this area is given little attention in the standard teacher training.
One example of this work is Dalton Junior, Infant and Nursery School staff getting training from Huddersfield Gym Club.
For the youngest children - at nursery age - new clubs are being set up to introduce them to sport.
