Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: the Finnish Schools on the Move programme.

Country/locality: Finland—Europe.

Target population: whole basic education in Finland, 7 to 16 year olds (550 200 grade 1 to 9 students in Finland), comprehensive schools (2449).

The aim of the programme is to establish a physically active operating culture in schools by promoting physical activity and decreasing excessive sitting especially during recess time and academic lessons.

Which of the seven best investments the programme addresses?

Finnish Schools on the Move (FSM) addresses all the seven best investments: (1) whole-of-school approach to support structured and unstructured physical activities throughout the day, (2) transport and the environment; active transport to school, (3) urban design and infrastructure; support for the development of school yards and facilities to enable physical activity, (4) healthcare and health education; training for school healthcare personnel on physical activity, fitness and well-being, (5) communication and public education including use of mass and social media, (6) whole-of-community approach involving key settings such as cities and municipalities, local governments and schools and (7) sports and recreation; collaboration with the National Olympic Committee, sporting organizations and community-based clubs and other sports providers to promote sports for all.

What sectors it involves:

Various collaborators are involved in the programme network, including the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finnish National Agency for Education, communities, schools and several different non-governmental organisations, among others.

Estimated programme reach

FSM will reach approximately almost 90% of Finnish elementary schools and 95% of pupils.

What is unique about this programme?

In Finland, the Finnish Schools on the Move programme has created new administrative and functional approaches to physical activity promotion and has successfully linked the goals of various collaborators into a shared network.

Key contact(s): Antti Blom, antti.blom@oph.fi.

Programme website: https://liikkuvakoulu.fi/.

Background and description of the programme

The school setting is an essential domain in which to promote physical activity (PA), especially among the least active children who may benefit the most from it. In addition to well-recognised health benefits, PA has positive effects on children’s cognitive function and scholastic performance.1 Considering that most children do not meet current PA recommendations,2 school-based PA promotions that deliver both health and academic benefits are essential to education.

Finnish Schools on the Move (FSM) (figure 1) is a national action programme to establish a physically active operating culture in schools.3 Schools and municipalities participating in FSM implement their own plans to enhance PA during the school day, mostly during recess and academic lessons (see box for some examples and see online supplementary video). Mandatory physical education lessons have not been increased on a large scale. Implementation of customised plans to promote PA has appeared to enhance principals’, teachers’ and students’ feelings of ownership over the process. The programme supports the dissemination of the ideas and practises developed by schools through organising seminars and producing and distributing educational materials. FSM operates in close interaction with the central government and has been implemented from the bottom-up and top-down simultaneously.

Figure 1

Finnish Schools on the Move is a national action programme.

Organised physical activities (PAs) in the school setting

Longer recess period to enable PA

Organised recess activities

Clubs and activities after school

Physically active breaks during academic lessons

Events related to sports and PA for whole school

Equipment and facilities for PA

Outdoor and indoor equipment available

Development of sports facilities

Involvement of the students

Students participate in the school PA working group

Students act as peer instructors and recess PA activators

Educating the students on PA and instructing

Leadership and school staff engagement related to the project

Principal’s support

Hired project worker

Educating the staff on PA

Staff working group for PA promotion

Communication and cooperation related to the project

Informing and communication within the school

Co-operation with parents, municipality and with local sports clubs

Other actions

Students’ PA monitoring

FSM is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and coordinated by the Finnish National Agency for Education, regional state administrative agencies and various other organisations. In 2010, a 2-year pilot involving 45 schools throughout Finland was launched.3 In the second phase (2012–2015), the programme was expanded significantly. In 2010, FSM initially focused on basic education (grades 1–9) and, since 2015, has also been implemented in upper secondary school and higher education. In the third phase (2015–2018), FSM has become a priority government programme regarding know-how and education.4 Its most recent goal is stated in the government’s May 2015 strategic Finnish Schools on the Move (FSM) programme: ‘The Schools on the Move project will be expanded across the country to ensure school children one hour of PA each day’.4 In January 2017, 77% (1878 of 2449) of all basic education schools had registered with the programme (figure 2).

Figure 2

Graphic programme card of best investments.

Why it works?

To support schools actions, €21 million have been allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture to FSM to operate in municipalities for 2016–2018. Continuous evaluation is at the core of FSM. To support schools in implementing their action plans, FSM developed a self-evaluation tool for PA promotion in schools. Using this tool can increase schools’ awareness of their status and plan their future actions. The tool also systemically collects data from schools to inform decision-makers about the programme’s development. In December 2016, more than 1000 schools used the tool and completed an online survey.

Scientific research related to the programme and practical monitoring of the success of local projects have been conducted at different levels. Research has increased information on students’ PA during the school day,5 6 PA and learning,7 psychosocial environment and social relationships at school,8 as well as the challenges and strengths of the FSM operations at different levels. This information has been used in developing the programme further. The research has been led by an academic centre3 and funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Research has shown positive changes in FSM schools: increased PA during recess and throughout the school day, more recess time spent outdoors, more active commuting to school during winter and greater student involvement in the planning of school activities.3 5 6 Most respondents to the school staff surveys agreed that PA during the school day increases student satisfaction with school and contributes to a more peaceful learning environment during academic lessons.8

Lessons learnt

Popular reporting of the research results in various media has been an essential part of the programme’s communication and dissemination efforts. In the future (2016–2018), follow-up to the FSM programme will be integrated into the current national level monitoring of children and adolescents.

Tight connection between school administrators and local schools in all the administration involving them has been essential.

Certain features and elements of school-based PA promotion can be translated well from one country to another. However, to ensure the feasibility and success of operations at the school level, such programmes should be tailored to the unique culture and special features of the national educational system and policy.