Norfolk youngsters inspired by the Olympics

Seventy youngsters were this month inspired by the Games when they got the chance to visit the Olympic Park.

The Norwich School Sport Partnership organised the trip for year 2 and 3 pupils from Hethersett Woodside Infant School and Little Melton Primary School.

The aim of the trip was to enable pupils from the two schools to work together while using the power of the Games to inspire them to learn about the regeneration, sustainability and legacy of the park.

It also aimed to ensure that all of the pupils felt part of the London 2012 Games whether they had been successful in purchasing tickets or not.

During the day, the youngsters took part in a classroom-based activity which looked at the history of the park and the redevelopment of the Olympic Park site.

They also went on a walk along the Greenway footpath which follows the edge of the park. Pupils were asked to identify different Olympic venues on a map and were also challenged to draw a variety of different objects and shapes that they could see on the park.

Both of the workshops were directly linked to national curriculum learning objectives and aimed to use the Olympics to help pupils learn whilst being out side of their normal classroom environment.

Jon Osborne, partnership development manager for the SSP, said: 'We really want to give as many young people as possible the once in a lifetime experience of seeing the Olympic Park in its full glory.'

Nicola Cushion, headteacher of Hethersett Woodside Infant School, said: 'It was a wonderful opportunity and experience. Quotes like 'it was the best day of my life because I have never been to London before' and 'I loved seeing what the buildings will be like' are proof of how inspired the pupils were.'