Earlier today, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Spending Review, setting out budgets for government departments for the next three years. Meanwhile, the Department for Education has confirmed the Primary PE and Sport Premium will continue for the 2025/26 academic year.

Speaking after the Spending Review and Primary PE and Sport Premium news, Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said:

“Confirmation that the Primary PE & Sport Premium will continue for the next academic year will be welcomed by schools, teachers and those working to support children to be physically active at schools, including the Youth Sport Trust.

“With government departments today receiving clarity about their finances for the years ahead, today’s positive news can serve as a stepping stone towards the creation of a new national plan which fully embraces the power of physical activity including PE, sport and play, to develop a generation of children and young people who are happy, healthy and ready to learn.

“We know how important daily physical activity is for health, wellbeing, personal and cognitive development, as well as academic attainment. At present, more than 50% of children are not achieving minimum recommended levels and this number is even higher for children from the least affluent backgrounds. Continued investment in PE, sport and play is essential to building a future where no child misses out.

“We have continued to reiterate this message in our engagement with the Government and hope today’s announcement can be the impetus towards a future where investment is delivered strategically, so attention can be turned towards planning and delivery with a particular focus on encouraging participation for children with the greatest needs.

“As today’s Play Commission report has highlighted, a toxic combination of growing digital dominance and fewer opportunities to be active is hitting this generation hard. It is our collective duty to act moving forward. The challenges are many, but through physical activity we have a low-cost, ready-made intervention which, in many cases, can tackle the root causes of those challenges before they can develop.

“Opportunities for change are on the horizon. The forthcoming National Youth Strategy, ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review, and roll-out of policies such as free breakfast clubs in primary schools all have the potential to get more children taking part in sport and play. We are also pleased the Chancellor has announced specific investment in youth and sports infrastructure, which can expand access and opportunities and respond to local needs and those groups most at risk of missing out.

“As we move towards National School Sports Week next week, our sector has been vocal and united in calling for a new approach. Now is the time for a new national plan guaranteeing every child daily opportunities to be active by ensuring all children are healthy movers before starting school, delivering greater physical activity in schools by reimagining the world-leading school sport partnership network which thrived under the last Labour government, and targeting activity towards those whose participation is held back by systemic barriers.

“By building on existing investment as confirmed today and through a new coordinated approach delivering strategic investment and aligned across government departments, the government can give every child an active start in life, delivering on their ambition to create the heathiest and happiest generation, and taking steps to improving our country’s long-term health and prosperity.”

Responding to the Spending Review, the National Sector Partners Group said:

We welcome the Chancellor’s recognition in the Spending Review that there can be no growth without health and our sector is ready to play a crucial role in the nation’s renewal – maximising its contribution to Government missions on economic growth, health and opportunity for young people.

We now await the precise details around funding for sport, recreation and physical activity, and we stand ready to work with the Government to advise on where best to invest in community provision.

The economic reality facing the Chancellor is reflected in today’s settlement. However, we believe now is the time to invest in our sector in order to reap the major health, economic and social returns of getting more people physically active, when the need and demand for our services has never been greater. 

We welcome a number of the commitments set out in today’s announcement to invest in community sports facilities and programmes. However, it is important this forms part of a compelling Government vision to maximise the full potential of sport, recreation, and physical activity in this parliament that is developed with our organisations. 

The Government’s vision must include tangible plans to:

• Improve the health and happiness of young people through a new national plan for children's physical activity including PE, sport and play.
  
• Foster the growth and renewal of sustainable and energy efficient community sports facilities by prioritising them in planning and infrastructure decisions, while supporting new streams of investment.
  
• Drive agile skills and workforce policies to harness the potential the sector has to address economic inactivity, especially in young people
  
• Fully integrate our sector with the NHS to support people with long-term health conditions, including musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, cardiorespiratory diseases and obesity, as well as mental health issues.
  
• Recognise the role that sport can play in delivering a range of social outcomes across the Government stated missions, engaging with underserved communities to create opportunities for people to be physically active in ways that work for them.

Sport, recreation, and physical activity can serve as a powerful engine for sustained economic growth by improving the nation’s health, fostering innovation, generating employment, attracting investment and improving wellbeing across all ages. 

This is a golden opportunity for the Government to recognise public demand and the sector’s potential, and work with us to build a healthier, happier, stronger Britain.

The National Sector Partners Group is formed of:

• The Active Partnerships Network
• The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
• The Sport for Development Coalition
• The Sport and Recreation Alliance
• ukactive
• The Youth Sport Trust

Through our collaborative work as sector partners, we aim to engage decision makers to improve the operating landscape for the sector and embed sport, recreation and physical activity as a key contributor to wider public policy objectives.

Webinar - mandatory digital reporting form

The Youth Sport Trust, alongside the Department for Education, the Association for Physical Education and Swim England, is delivering a webinar introducing the new mandatory digital reporting form for the Primary PE and Sport Premium.

• Date: Thursday 12 June
• Time: 1600-1715
• Venue: Online (Zoom)

The session will provide a comprehensive overview of the new reporting system including practical examples, video walkthroughs and interactive guidance to help you use the system effectively.

Register here to reserve your place.