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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 15 August 2008

We encourage all children to take part in sport

• CONTRARY to the letter from Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg (They’re really bad sports, August 8), it is simply not true to say that Westminster City Council “cares little about education.”
The council is on track to meet the national target of 50 per cent of our schools providing after-school activities, access to childcare and support to parents by September 2008.
Cllr Dimoldenberg refers to data from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. I am pleased to announce that since these figures were published five more schools now offer the full range of services, meaning almost 9,000 pupils will benefit.
At Westminster we encourage all children to take part in sport, regardless of their ability. Our sport services are not “woeful”, as claimed in Cllr Dimoldenberg’s letter. Indeed, on average 93 per cent of schoolchildren take part in at least two hours of sport a week and Westminster has a dedicated sports unit that provides a range of extra-curricular activities across the city.
Our five indoor and two outdoor sites provide a myriad of services from gyms and swimming pools to basketball and kids’ activities.
Additionally this summer, through the council’s holiday programme, children from across the city can take part in a range of activities, including the country’s first accredited Parkour camp.
While we realise we have more work to do, we are not complacent and will keep striving to deliver the best service possible to the people of Westminster.
Cllr Sarah Richardson
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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