Hello, my name is Jonathan Bhowmick, creator and founder of Action Mats.
Action Mats in an educational fitness resource that was originally devised as a way to engage children in exercise, using a series of highly visual cardio fitness stations that can be moved around to create games and team challenges. Fundamental to the concept is the simple way each activity is conveyed using illustrations and graphics printed onto each mat, so that children of any language and ability can easily and quickly get involved.
Initially designed for EAL children (English as an additional language), we hear daily that the simplicity of Action Mats is brilliant for pupils (and teachers) in every part of society. The speed of setting up lessons and the ease of understanding Action Mats is the key to their inclusivity.
There are many ways to use Action Mats including; fitness circuits, competitive games, problem-solving challenges and educational games. In addition we have created multiple, curriculum-linked activity plans, to assist with the successful delivery of lessons for everyone.
A Short History
We developed Action Mats Limited in response to PE practitioners looking for a combination of exercise and play. We came up with the idea that ‘Action Mat’, our stick-man character, would show children of any age and language ability how to do exercises on a bright and attractive activity zone – a defined space that attracts children to use it.
We set out to find a lightweight and durable mat that would be non-slip and non-trip, and enable bright and cheerful designs to be printed on it.
Once we found the material, we developed the range and, with help from PE teachers, fine-tuned the exercises and challenges to address children’s capability and attention span.
Get to know Action Mats
Action Mats as featured on itv News
MP Bim Afolami and the students during a PE lesson. Credit: itv News Anglia
With fears that children in our region are less fit and more sluggish than ever before, one school in Hertfordshire is trying to change that.
Schools have been given government funding to keep kids fit and healthy, but there are concerns it is not enough. As a small village school, Pirton Primary in Hitchin doesn’t receive the same amount of funding as larger schools. However, recently they were awarded government funding for new sports equipment.
