Sport in Schools and Communities

To be determined from her speech.

Highlighted that less than half of all children currently meet daily guidelines for sport and physical activity, but 54% would like to do more. Urged the Government to commit to giving PE and physical literacy the focus it needs in the curriculum with properly trained staff.

Noted that only 41% of children in Bracknell are classed as being active and asked for early notification of funding so schools, teachers, and clubs can plan ahead.

Asked the Minister to look at schemes to help young people in remote areas access sport without financial hardship. Also requested sharing best practices with the Scottish Government.

Requested clarification on whether there will be time for consultation before publishing an updated school sport and activity action plan, to ensure voices are heard in its development.

Sport is vital for personal health and social development. The Government's vision is lacking, leading to falling participation rates post-2012 London Olympics. Labour urges action on the cost of living crisis, supports grassroots clubs, and calls for better distribution of finance down the pyramid.

Grassroots sports clubs are struggling due to the cost of living and energy bills. They need urgent funding and support from the Government.

Proposes a model where 70% of combined Premier League and EFL TV rights go to the Premier League and 30% to the rest, enabling longer term investment for grassroots clubs.

Community-run swimming pools are under financial pressure and need support. Not all swimming pools are run by local authorities and thus do not benefit from government schemes.

Crouch emphasises the need for an integrated approach to physical health, highlighting that current policies are disjointed. She mentions community sport initiatives in her constituency and advocates for more support and recognition of such facilities. She also raises concerns about the financial impact of rising energy costs on leisure trusts and calls for urgent discussions.

I agree with the problem of overlapping responsibilities in DCMS. I support the importance of access to sports in schools, emphasising health benefits and community building. The Lionesses' success showcases the impact of consistent effort and support from coaches and volunteers. Rising energy costs threaten many facilities; 67% of schools offer football equally, which drops to 41% in secondary school. Girls need equal opportunities for inspiration.

Sport culture has improved since the 80s with increased support and engagement. The Daily Mile is popular in primary schools. Schools need more consistency, transparency, and clarity in funding for sports. Collaboration between schools and local professional clubs enhances engagement and confidence among students. Emphasises community and professional sports offerings in Worcester and supports inclusive sports like wheelchair sport. Plea to secure the future of professional rugby in Worcester.

Sport in communities and schools has gained renewed focus post-pandemic, emphasising its importance for mental and physical wellbeing. The debate should include the Department of Health and Social Care team actively. She highlighted the role of PE teachers and grassroots sports organisations in building confidence among young people to engage in sports activities. Seema Malhotra also discussed her personal experience with athletics clubs that helped build her confidence in participating in sports. She supported the Schools Active Movement’s efforts to address challenges such as childhood obesity, mental health issues, and physical literacy disparities between affluent and deprived areas. The lack of a coherent strategy on infrastructure and year-to-year funding announcements affects planning and staff retention. She proposed maintaining current infrastructure, protecting the value of games organisers and national networks, working together for future planning, consulting on an updated school sport and activity action plan, and ensuring a central role for national networks in an updated sports strategy.

Acknowledged the importance of PE teachers and sports coaches who often act as key support figures for young people during challenging times. They provide inspiration and a safe space to discuss issues, emphasising their crucial role in society.

Mr Tomlinson expressed his passion for sports and highlighted the importance of maintaining funding for school sports programmes. He noted that while only two out of five children were regularly active before the introduction of the sports premium, by the end of the programme, this had improved but remained at two out of five. However, it positively impacted the other three out of five who previously did nothing. The current £320 million funding should be seen as a long-term commitment given that only 42.2% of young people are active for an hour or more daily and 22.7% do little to no activity at all. He also mentioned the need for more PE teachers, welcoming changes in initial teacher training, and praised his Minister for Schools' work with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to encourage teaching as a career path for ex-players. Additionally, he advocated for free access to school facilities during off-school hours, encouraging dual-use planning for new sports facilities, supporting local sports camps, and thanking volunteers in community sports. He also emphasised the importance of accessible play parks and empowering community groups to take ownership of sports facilities.

Stressed the importance of sport for young people's development, citing benefits to health and academic achievement. Criticised underfunding in non-football sports and highlighted issues with school facilities being closed to communities post-COVID.

Emphasised the role of sport in overcoming academic challenges and fostering life skills. Advocated for extending the school day to include more sports activities, criticised underfunding in PE education despite its importance.

Ms Britcliffe highlighted the importance of sport in driving social and community development, mentioning issues such as lack of space and facilities for schools and grassroots clubs. She cited specific examples from her constituency like The Hollins school and Accrington Stanley Community Trust, which have received significant investments to improve sports infrastructure. Additionally, she emphasised the need to safeguard local assets like Accrington Stanley FC and supported the fan-led review aimed at promoting sustainability in English football.

Mr Benton intervened to support Ms Britcliffe's point about capital investment, referencing a £6.5 million sports facility project in Blackpool that is expected to deliver regeneration benefits and improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Emphasised the importance of long-term funding for physical education and sports in schools, noting that current one-year funding settlements often come late and disrupt planning. Highlighted the success of programmes like the holiday activities and food programme in local areas. Advocated for better utilisation of school buildings during holidays to provide community facilities such as sports centres and 3G astroturf pitches. Mentioned examples from Kidsgrove, including a FIFA-standard pitch that generates income and creates jobs. Raised concerns about leisure centre closures due to energy costs and called for support in this regard. Discussed the impact of local initiatives like pump tracks and BMX facilities on community engagement and health. Stressed the importance of PE as a core compulsory part of the curriculum, suggesting a minimum of two hours per week.

Mr Daly highlighted the revival of cricket in Halifax through local community efforts, emphasising the importance of grassroots sports and community involvement. He discussed the decline in participation among teenagers after initial interest and cited examples of disappearing clubs despite historical resilience. He argued that there is a significant issue with participatory sport in communities beyond mere complacency.

The debate focused on the importance of sport in schools and communities, with Stephen Morgan emphasising the benefits of sport for children’s mental health and physical wellbeing. He highlighted the challenges faced by grassroots organisations due to rising energy costs and the need for more PE teachers. Morgan also mentioned Labour's plans to boost sports participation by hiring 6,500 additional PE teachers and introducing an equal access guarantee for school sport. He criticised the Government’s lack of vision in integrating physical activity into everyday life and called for a renewed focus on boosting sports participation across the country.

The Government is committed to providing funding through the primary PE and sport premium, which totals over £2 billion since 2013. The debate also touched on the issue of community sports facilities and the need for schools to open their facilities outside school hours. Gibb mentioned that the Department is building on new funding for sports facilities by providing additional support to schools to utilise these spaces more effectively.

Gullis intervened, expressing frustration with the way Sport England allocates funds. He suggested that there is potential for smarter use of taxpayers' money by refurbishing existing buildings instead of building new ones.

Bradley proposed a more straightforward approach to enabling community access to school sports facilities. He suggested that minor changes such as providing a simple padlock could facilitate easier access for local clubs like North Notts Hockey Club.