Visionary’s programme for kids has balance just right

One of the joys of my job is to work with the former Scottish rugby and Strictly star Kenny Logan.

He and his colleagues run a programme of personalised physical literacy for primary school kids. It launched in Scotland four months ago.

It teaches some core physical skills such as co-ordination and balance and is personalised to each child. It has proved to be an impressive tool in boosting self esteem and raising academic results in literacy and numeracy.

So last week I went with Kenny to a great wee school in Midlothian. We were invited by Andrew Wilson, who is the council's PE champion.

He is a visionary who sees that the programme is just what his primary school children need and is setting the pace in its adoption in Scotland.

St Luke's is run by a fantastic head teacher, Lindsay Walker. We were there to see her, her teachers and classroom assistants, work with 10 of their children as they did their 10-minute morning programmes.

The staff were loving and caring. They had patience and professionalism.

All of this was a reason to be joyful. But best of all were the kids. They were obviously enjoying their twice-daily chance to work with their teachers on a one to one basis.

The day proved to me that among all the angst and emo- tion of referendums and the constitution, there are people whose eyes are firmly fixed on what really matters. Our children. Their wellbeing and their self esteem.

So three cheers for Midlothian Council, and those like them the length and breadth of the land.

Please, please keep up the great work.