Scottish schools will be expected to offer pupils two hours of physical education per week according to new Curriculum for Excellence guidelines published today.

As well as planned PE sessions sport and physical activity will take place at break times, lunchtimes and out of school hours.

Commenting on the guidelines, Schools Minister Maureen Watt said:

"This will give children and young people an important foundation for participation in experiences in physical activities and sport in preparation for a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle."

Responding to the news Labour's Shadow Schools Minister Ken Macintosh said:

"Two hours of PE for Scotland's young people was a key Labour commitment and I welcome the SNP's u-turn on this policy. The SNP have realised that offering regular PE to children goes a long way to improve their physical and mental health, setting them up for an active lifestyle in adulthood. 

"However, as with class sizes and school buildings, important questions remain unanswered about how the government is going to meet this commitment.  The Curriculum for Excellence is still shrouded in confusion and recent PQ answers suggest that the government had not costed or laid the groundwork to deliver this policy.  I sincerely hope that it does not become another of the SNP's broken promises."

The Curriculum for Excellence proposals also focus on healthy eating education as part of a healthier lifestyle. Children will be taught to read food labels and make informed decisions about their eating habits. They will be encouraged to spread their knowledge to the home and influence their parents’ food choices.

This comes as the latest draft outcome for Curriculum for Excellence, the new curriculum being developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland which is designed to create a more holistic approach to education in schools.

Watt said:

"This Government has already demonstrated how important we believe the early years of our children's lives are, particularly in relation to diet and pre-school education. Our nutritional guidance, early intervention and the forthcoming early years strategy all place children very firmly at the heart of our policies.

"But obesity is an increasing problem and poses a serious risk to health. That's why tackling the problem, particularly in early life, is a high priority and why we're determined to help children develop a taste for healthy eating at the earliest possible age.

"As part of our national food policy we will be encouraging people to develop healthy eating habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives and help tackle the serious problem of obesity.

"Giving children guidance on what's good for them and how to make good food choices is essential in taking this forward."