The Department for Education has confirmed that the PE and Sport Premium will be continuing into the next academic year.
With many children having seen reduced mobility, contact hours, physical confidence, and fitness, the announcement has received a warm welcome from schools, charities and sports organisations making plans for September.
Education Secretary confirmed that the grant will be continuing into the year 2021-2022 and re-committed the government to improving physical fitness for children saying:
“I am pleased to announce that we will continue to fund the PE and Sport Premium next year, so primary schools can continue to prioritise children’s physical wellbeing alongside education recovery.”
The DfE also clarified that schools could continue to use their underspend, with further guidance expected to be released soon. The general assumption would be that the underspend should remain focused on educational recovery in physical education.
A recent guest on The Drive Phase podcast, Alison Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, welcomed the news as an essential step for school sport. She added:
“Next week schools’ across the country will be holding sports days as part of National School Sport Week and celebrating the important and powerful role of school sport and PE in improving lives. There is a huge demand from schools, parents, carers and young people for… sport to be positioned at the core of the curriculum.”
The grant is part of a plan for educational recovery that includes the School Sport and Activity Plan, which will invest 10.1 million in providing school sports facilities and swimming pools.
Any overspend can be used up until July 2022.
To keep up with the guidelines, see the DfE page and here for more information on the announcement.
