Youngsters at a school who missed out on their annual sports day because of the Covid-19 lockdown were given the next best thing — a virtual sports day.

Mansfield Town Football In The Community worked with Farmilo Primary School for the event to help tackle the isolation children are facing and improve their mental wellbeing.

Community coaches worked alongside teachers to devise five challenges that pupils could do at home.

Premier League Primary Stars coordinator and assistant community manager Jordan Ferrer said it was a fantastic idea and a great way for children to be competitive with each other whilst they are forced apart by the pandemic.

He added: “We filmed five challenges that not only show children how the challenge should be completed, but also show parents how to set them up using household items.

“It would have been the school’s annual sports day so the idea with the virtual sports day was for the children to see and try the challenges all week, and then on the Friday parents were asked to record the scores of their children and upload them — allowing the school to collate the results and share them.

“We understand how much of an impact being separated from friendships groups can have on children. Staying active and competitive is of mass importance to combat that and maintain a positive mindset, which is certainly what we were aiming for.”

Over the course of the week, children could participate in events including the ‘Duvet Sack Race’, ‘Human Hula-Hoop’ and ‘Triple Jump Relay’.

Adam Newman, KS2 leader and curriculum coordinator at Farmilo Primary, added: “Physical activity and sport are very important to our school and we have heard that lots of our families are continuing to safely engage in daily physical activity, whether that’s Joe Wicks’ Workouts, long walks or runs as a household.

“Our virtual sports day was a chance to bring our school together in physical activity, having fun and sharing our enthusiasm for PE and sport.

“We were delighted that Mansfield Town Football In The Community supported us. Their help in designing challenges and adapting the usual events helped to raise the bar and I’m sure the children enjoyed participating.”

Any schools wishing to design their own Virtual Sports Day can contact Jordan Ferrer by emailing [email protected]