Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver hopes that National School Sports Week can champion physical activity in schools.

National School Sports Week is a weeklong annual campaign which aims to promote the roles of PE, physical activity, and school sport in allowing all pupils to reach their full potential.

This year, the event, powered by Sports Direct’s Monster Kickabout, is themed around ‘putting all into football,’ through 60 minutes a day of PE, sport, and play.

The intention is to drive up awareness of the Chief Medical Officer’s’ recommendation that children should be active for a minimum of 60 minutes, or for children with disabilities, a recommended 20 minutes a day, to stay happy and healthy.

Oliver was there to kick off the week at Swiss Cottage School in London alongside some incredible Olympic and Paralympic guests, in a day she believed harnessed the spirit of sport in the playground.

"National School Sports Week is a week where we are working with schools, national governing bodies, families and communities to raise awareness of how children should be getting 60 active minutes of activity a day," she said.

"It gives young people the chance to recognise the importance of their recommended 60 or 20 active minutes.

"At Swiss Cottage School, the children were involved in an assembly-like talk with incredible athletes like Dame Katherine Grainger, Montell Douglas and Tim Prendergast. 

"That assembly raised excitement for the children before they got their 20 minutes with a range of activities.

"With the Euros on at the moment, this year we have teamed up with Monster Kickabout, and the whole idea is to put the all into football to get them moving and using their feet.

"We want to bring the spirit of football into the playground."

Students at Swiss Cottage School, had the opportunity to take part in an accessible sports session led by Olympian Douglas and Paralympian Prendergast to get moving and have their recommended daily active minutes.

And Oliver noted the importance of the Youth Sport Trust's campaign in getting young people active, no matter their ability.

"We know that less than half of children nationally get their active minutes everyday and that really isn’t good enough," she said.

"Those active minutes are vital for a child’s growth and development and it’s a really worry for us.

"Moreover, only 30 per cent of teachers and parents know that there is a recommended daily amount so there’s a lot that we can do to change things. 

"Part of growing is moving and by living in a digital age, we need to balance our lifestyle and educate young people on this. 

"The Youth Sport Trust hope to support schools and education set ups in creating active learning environments to make children happier and healthier.

"Whether that’s active travel or active playgrounds, physical activity is no longer just for children with high level of ability, it’s for everybody."

National School Sports Week is an annual campaign, launched originally in 2008 and run by national children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, to champion the role of PE, physical activity, and school sport in allowing all pupils to reach their full potential.