It is important for children to keep active, as according to the NHS, children between the ages of 5-18 need to do 60 minutes of physical activity a day. They need to continue to build their muscles, strengthen their bones and over-all stay healthy. More than one in five children in their first year of primary school are overweight or obese, rising to one in three by the time they leave primary school.

At school, fitness and exercise comes easily with regular PE lessons and general running around the playground. With intervals within the day for children to run around, it enables children to keep active. However, during the school holidays, children are found more likely to be sat in front of a tv, device or game and therefore reducing their fitness they gained at school. A study found that British schoolchildren lose 80% of the fitness they built up in school through their lazy time off in the holidays. Although some children have the opportunity for summer camps and different activities throughout the summer to maintain their fitness levels, however, these camps and activities are financially out of reach for some parents and carers. Whether their choice or not, children do not have the same opportunities as other children do to keep active and healthy out of school.

New funding is expected from the government to help pupils receive a healthier and more active lifestyle. The £415 million is to be given to primary, secondary and sixth form colleges to help pay for more sport facilities, after school activities and healthy eating. Although, many suggest that this funding should be used beyond the school gates to enable more activities outside of school to help children continue with their fitness.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/10/summer-holidays-bad-child-health/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_tw