Key findings from the Active Lives Children and Young People Survey include: 

• 49.1% of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of sport and physical activity every day, the highest since the Survey began in 2017-18. However, 28.4% of children and young people do less than an average of 30 minutes a day.
• Significant inequalities remain in activity levels, with Black (41%) and Asian (43%) children and young people, and those from the least affluent families (45%), still less likely to play sport or be physically active than the average across all ethnicities and affluence groups.
• Girls (46%) are also less likely to be active than boys (52%), and the gender gap is widest between boys and girls from Asian (11.2%), Black (10.6%) and other (12.5%) ethnic groups.

Responding to the data, Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE said:

“It is hugely significant this latest Active Lives Children and Young People data shows an increase in physical activity levels. It gives us hope progress is being made and the work of charities and organisations like ours are helping increase opportunity, improve experience and foster changing attitudes about the importance of movement, play and sport in children’s education and development. However, while any increase in children and young people’s physical activity levels is positive, there is still work to be done. Our Class of 2035 report recently issued a warning about the impact of increasingly sedentary lifestyles leading to developmental delays, rising rates of obesity, mental health issues, and chronic disease among young people. Despite this increase reported today, far too many children still remain inactive and are suffering as a consequence. 

"Inactive children need more than encouragement; they need support and opportunities to make movement part of their everyday lives, safe environments to play in, healthy and active schools which prioritise PE, sport and play, and communities empowering them to live active lifestyles. Positive experiences are key to getting more children engaged with being active and setting them up with healthy lifelong habits. Every day we delay action, the economic and social costs increase. With government plans for a refreshed curriculum, enrichment framework and a national network of PE and School Sport Partnerships we have an opportunity to deliver change giving every child access to the life-changing benefits of play and sport. It is imperative this opportunity is not missed.

“Whilst the headline findings are positive and welcome news to our sector it is clear significant inequalities remain, affecting participation from a number of groups including Black and Asian children and young people, girls, and those from the least affluent families. We are determined to build a future where every child has an active start in life and activity levels are driven up for those children currently missing out. Insights from targeted interventions delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and other organisations can inform future activity and respond to the bespoke challenges different young people face, supported by an approach which prioritises the inclusion of the most under-served communities and lowest participating children.

“Schools play an invaluable role in providing opportunities for all children to be active, through PE, sport and play, and the increase in activity levels within the school day is testament to the many people working across education who share our determination to build a nation of active and well schools. School-based activity is, for many children, the cornerstone for an active childhood and when aligned to active travel, play and informal activity – all of which are on the increase – can help build the positive experiences and associations key to forming habits for life.  However, to achieve this ambition young people need places and spaces to be active during and outside the school day. Exploring new approaches like Always Active Uniforms that encourage movement throughout the day, beyond formal PE and sport sessions, can help embed movement more naturally and make getting active more achievable for every child. At a time when less than half of children are achieving the recommended daily active levels, it would be misguided to put the future of these spaces, and the opportunities they provide through play and sport, at risk.

“Meanwhile, ongoing policy development and implementation can provide much-needed change through a new ambitious, inclusive approach aiming to provide opportunities for every child to be active at school. The Government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review commits to a reimagining of Physical Education (PE), as well as action to encourage all schools to deliver two hours of PE each week. In addition, the forthcoming PE and School Sport Partnerships Network offers a route to learn from successful approaches in the past to deliver systemic, long-lasting change physical activity levels on a positive trajectory and targeting resources to those at the greatest risk of missing out. Key to progress will be a joined-up, cross-government approach which maximises the investment available and fully harnesses the role play and sport can play in supporting young people’s wellbeing, engagement in school, and the development of skills all of which improve life chances and ultimately support the economy.”