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07 Jul 2020 232

UK Coaching delighted by funding announcement for primary school PE

The Government has confirmed that schools in England will benefit from £320 million from the PE and Sport Premium during the academic year 2020-2021.

The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the news on Sunday 5 July, and stated that because of the coronavirus pandemic, schools could bring forward any unused funding from the current academic year (2019-2020) into the next academic year.

UK Coaching’s Policy and Partnership Manager Heather Douglas, said:

We're delighted with the Government’s announcement to continue to fund the PE and Sport Premium for primary schools. Sport, physical activity and physical education have never been so important, greatly benefiting children’s physical and mental health and well-being.

“Since 2013, the fund has enabled schools to ensure that children receive PE and sport as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. It has also allowed schools to invest in coaches to help enhance their PE provision through direct delivery and by upskilling teachers. These coaches have also been an important link for children, helping them to transition from school sport into community sport, and thus fostering a lifelong love of sport and physical activity.”

The Government has provided additional funding of over £150 million per annum since 2013-2014 to improve PE and school sport in primary schools in England. In September 2017, the funding was doubled.

UK Coaching developed a Coaching in Primary Schools Toolkit in collaboration with national partners the association for Physical Education (afPE), Active Partnerships, Sport England, ukactive Kids and the Youth Sport Trust to help head teachers, PE leads and school governors make the most of the Premium.

For further information on how best to use coaches in schools, head to ukcoaching.org/schools.

For coaches returning to coach in schools, check our helpful Questions to Consider When You Return to Coaching infographic series.