‘Works for some but not others’ A qualitative study on teachers’ perspectives and perceived pupil experience of a North West London school-based run/walk programme

Abstract

Developing physical literacy (PL) in childhood is a key to develop lifelong physical activity. Teachers’ play an important role in supporting children’s PL and are at the forefront for continued participation in school-based interventions. This study aimed to discuss teacher-perceived pupils’ experiences of a London-based run/walk intervention and explore its contribution to PL. Semi-structured interviews were developed to explore school delivery and teacher perceptions. Six themes developed: perceived experiences, perceived outcomes of participation, teacher attitudes, fidelity/adherence, logistics and intervention suggestions. A novel insight is that the intervention ‘works for some but not others’ and the importance of self-select pace.