Understanding Sports Premium

Sports Premium has been designed to promote healthy and active lifestyles in pupils from an early age, however many schools are unsure where they can spend this funding or what qualifies,

This article will break down for you all your most asked PE and Sport Premium questions, so you know the best ways to use your budget!

What is Sport Premium Funding?

The PE and Sport Premium was introduced in 2013 as part of the British government’s School Sport and Activity Action Plan , designed to improve the quality of P.E, activity, and sports in Primary Schools across Britain.

This budget is flexible for every school, so you can choose how best to use this money to suit the specific needs of your pupils.

What Can I Spend The Sports Premium On?

Schools are responsible for what they select to spend their PE and Sport Premium on, but it must be used to:

1. Build capacity and capability in the school and make sure that improvements to the quality of PE, sports and Physical Activity provision are sustainable to benefit students who join the school in the future.
2. Develop or add to the PE, sport and physical activity that the school provides it's students.

Sports Premium can be used on items/products that meet the following targets:

• Increases engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity- this can be done through targeting activities to involve the whole class, creating a space for active play during pupils’ break time or expanding the variety of sports opportunities available.
• Contributes to the improvement of the school as a whole by raising the profile of sports and PE- this can be done by encouraging cycle/walks/runs to school and supporting pupils in encouraging their peers to be more physically active.
• Builds knowledge of P.E and sport in staff so they confidently teach and share their understanding- this can include professional development and the hiring of Sports Specialists to work alongside your staff.
• Offers a variety of sports/ physical activity opportunities for all pupils- this may involve after-school sports clubs, joining sports/activity opportunities in the wider community or introducing new sports.
• Encourages participation in competitive sport- this can include inter-school competitions or tournaments as part of the wider community.

What Can't I Spend The Sports Premium On?

It's important that your school does not use the PE and Sport Premium funding for:

• Capital Expenditure (except for any goods/products that are below your school's de minimis value).
• Employing coaches to take over or plan PE lessons (something like this should be covered by the school's core budget).
• Paying for subscriptions or invoices in advance for services in the future years.
• Teaching the minimum requirements of the national curriculum - like core swimming lessons.
• Buying staff PE kits.

The Sports Premium Deadline

All Sports Premium funding must be spent in full by the end of the summer term. The official deadline provided by the government is the 31st of July 2024.

Can You Carry Over Sports Premium Funding?

Schools are not allowed to carry over any funding into the next year. The Government requires that all funding acquired by the school must be spent by the deadline and the school must publish details every academic year about how your school has spent the funding.

We recommend that all schools who receive the PE and Sport premium funding try to spend all of it before the deadline to avoid any potential trouble in the future.

What Could You Get From Pentagon With The Sports Premium This Year??

Our range of freestanding products are below the capital expenditure threshold, making them the perfect Sport Premium investment. These durable, active play items are suited to developing a multitude of skills and will benefit your pupils and enhance your provisions for years to come.

Make sure you get the most of your funding today and check out our range of options on our Online Shop now!

Our team of Internal Learning Advisors will be happy to support you and advise you on your Sports Premium budget. Their knowledge and expertise will help you to make the best decision for your pupils and future generations.

Contact Us Today for some advice and guidance - we’ll be happy to help!