PE and Sports Premium
High-quality PE is an entitlement for all pupils, regardless of their starting points or their prior experiences of sport and physical activity. The national curriculum states: A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.
The Premium is designed to help children get an active start in life, supporting primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – from becoming healthier both mentally and physically to improved behaviour and better academic achievement.
The funding is a ring-fenced grant for English primary schools to provide additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of PE, sport and physical
activity. Allocations to schools are determined by a formula based on pupil numbers. Schools are free to choose how to spend the PE and Sport Premium funding but are accountable to Ofsted for the impact of this funding.
At Thames Primary Academy we have a strategic approach to the spending of this funding so that we can maximise its impact and enrich the lives of our pupils so that they are set on the path to healthy and active lifestyles as adults.
Healthy Advocates is a key driver in our curriculum intent. It is important to us that all members of our school community understand how to stay safe and keep healthy both physically and mentally. The personal and academic curriculums offer children the opportunity to explore and understand healthy eating, the benefits of exercise and sleep, dental and personal hygiene, awareness of substance misuse, personal safety, growth mindset, mindfulness and mental toughness.
Our priorities and vision for 2021-22 are as follows:
- To develop the quality of teaching in PE to make sure that teaching of PE is of a sustained high quality and inspires our children to participate, succeed and excel in competitive sport.
- To develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles for all pupils which include regular access to exercise and participation in a range of sports, and an understanding of healthy living and how to lead healthy lives.
- To increase our pupils’ participation in competitive sports, competitions and inter school activities.
- To develop and nurture children with particular talents and abilities giving them a window to participate with equally gifted peers to develop their skills and abilities further.
- To provide the children with space, opportunities and means to be increasingly active throughout their school day and beyond
Primary School’s Sports Funding
Click here for the Department of Education link to the Primary School’s Sports Funding page.
What is the Sports Premium?
The government is providing funding of £150 million per annum for the academic years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 to provide new and substantial primary school sport funding. The funding is being jointly provided by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport, and will see money going directly to primary school headteachers to spend on improving the quality of sport and PE for all their children. Each school will receive £8,000 plus an extra £5 per pupil each year for the next two years.
Recently the government have committed to funding the primary school Sports Premium up until 2020 – an investment worth £750 million.
Purpose of the funding
Schools will have to spend the sport funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose how they do this.
Possible uses of the funding include:
- Hiring specialist PE teachers or qualified sports coaches to work alongside primary teachers when teaching PE
- Paying for professional development opportunities in PE/sport
- Providing cover to release primary teachers for professional development in PE/sport
- Running sport competitions, or increasing participation in the school games
- Buying quality assured professional development modules or material for PE/sport
- Providing places for pupils on after school sport clubs and residential visits
