Primary PE & Sports Premium

Primary PE and Sport Premium to continue at £320 million for 2020/21 academic year

Importantly, the DfE has also sanctioned any Primary PE and Sport Premium funding from the academic year (2019-20), that schools were unable to use, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, can be carried forward to utilise in the next academic year.

The Premium is designed to help children get an active start in life, supporting primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – from becoming healthier both mentally and physically to improved behaviour and better academic achievement. The funding is a ring-fenced grant for English primary schools to provide additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of PE, sport and physical activity. Allocations to schools are determined by a formula based on pupil numbers. The average one form entry primary school will receive roughly £18,000 per year.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said:

“During these challenging times, it has become clearer to me than ever the importance of keeping active and how it benefits not just our physical health but also our ability to pay attention, our mood and our mental health too.” 

“Every family will have had a different experience of the pandemic, and I know that many children will have missed time spent outdoors with their friends – that’s why it’s so important that ahead of a full return to school in September, schools get the certainty they need to prepare their PE and sports activities for next year.”

There are 5 key indicators that schools should expect to see improvement across:

Schools must spend the additional funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose how they do this.

• The engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity – the Chief Medical Officer guidelines recommend that all children and young people aged 5 to 18 engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, of which 30 minutes should be in school

• The profile of PE and sport is raised across the school as a tool for whole-school improvement

• Increased confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport

• Broader experience of a range of sports and activities offered to all pupils

• Increased participation in competitive sport.

Accountability
Schools will be held to account over how they spend their additional, ring-fenced funding. Ofsted will strengthen the coverage of PE and sport within the 'Inspectors handbook' and supporting guidance so that both schools and inspectors know how sport and PE will be assessed in future as part of the school's overall provision. Maintained schools, including those that convert to academies, MUST publish, on their website, information about their use of the Primary PE and Sport Premium.

Schools should publish the amount of Primary PE and Sport Premium received; a full breakdown of how it has been spent (or will be spent); what impact the school has seen on pupils’ PE and sport participation and attainment and how the improvements will be sustainable in the future. Schools should also consider how their use of the Primary PE and Sport Premium is giving pupils the opportunity to develop a healthy, active lifestyle.

Sports Premium reporting template can be found here: https://www.afpe.org.uk/physical-education/evidencing-the-impact-guidance-template/