New plan to improve quality and access to PE and sport

The government has published its School Sport and Activity Action Plan to support teachers and schools to deliver two hours of high-quality PE and provide competitive and extra-curricular opportunities to both girls and boys. It aims to improve equal access to sport for all pupils.

New guidance also published today, alongside the action plan, includes details of the digital tool to help schools spend their allocation of the PE and Sport Premium to the best advantage of pupils. Headteachers can use this money to improve teacher training, offer more opportunities for pupils to take part in competition and expand the range of sports on offer at school.

On top of funding for the PE and Sport Premium, an extra £57m is already supporting over one thousand schools across England to open sport facilities outside of the school day. This fund is targeted at girls, disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Guidance will be published later this year to support in the delivery of equal access and two hours of PE per week. With support from national governing bodies and other sporting organisations, the Government will identify schools that offer equal access for girls to sport during the school day and additional extracurricular activities. This guidance will include detailed case-studies outlining examples of good practice, to help support teachers and senior leaders to deliver good PE and sport in schools.

Included in the guidance on providing high quality PE and sport will be practical and detailed case studies from schools. Helping schools to provide two hours of PE a week, equal access for girls and areas where schools currently need additional support, such as swimming and water safety lessons.

Government will also share new resources and findings from targeted programmes that support children with special educational needs and disabilities and encourage competition and leadership opportunities for girls.