PE & SPORTS PREMIUM FUNDING

At St Thomas’, we recognise the contribution of PE to the health and well-being of our pupils. We believe that a varied PE curriculum, a range of curriculum enhancements and engaging extra-curricular opportunities have a positive influence on the health, well being and development of all our pupils. We know that primary school is often where the foundations of positive and enjoyable participation in regular physical activity are embedded.  

What is the Sports Premium?

In 2013, the Government announced plans to provide additional funding to primary schools in order to improve the quality of PE and sport for all children and to provide a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They have provided additional funding of over £150 million per annum since 2013/14 to improve PE and school sport in primary schools. Each year schools receive an additional grant to enhance their work in providing PE & Sports for all pupils. 

What is it for?

All children and young people should live healthy active lives. The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that all children and young people should take part in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day. Children with special educational needs and disabilities should take part in 20 minutes of daily activity. Schools have a key role to play in achieving this aim.

The Government states that schools should use the PE and sport premium funding to help achieve these aims. They should use it to make additional and sustainable improvements to the PE, sport and physical activity they provide, such as:

• funding high-quality PE and sport for at least 2 hours a week, complemented by a wide range of extracurricular sport and competitive opportunities

• providing or improving equal access to sport for boys and girls

   

Schools should prioritise PE and sport premium spending to improve in the following 5 key areas:

• increasing staff confidence, knowledge and skills in teaching PE and sport

• increasing engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity and sport

• raising the profile of PE and sport across the school, to support whole school improvement

• offer a broader and more equal experience of a range of sports and physical activities to all pupils

• increase participation in competitive sport

   

How do we spend the money at St Thomas'?

The sports  premium has the potential to have a great impact on the health, well being and future life chances of pupils. Schools are able to decide how the Sports Premium is best spent to maximise impact for pupils in their own context. Our PE and Sports Premium Grant enables to continue and extend our sports provision. Some of the ways we use the Sports Premium Funding are listed below:

• Employing additional sports professionals and coaches to work with our children

• Full participation in the competitive sports leagues and matches within our local cluster of schools

• Wider participation in the competitive events, tournaments and matches offered by the Fylde and Wyre Sports Partnership

• Wider participation in the 'non-elite' sporting events enabling our 'Opportunities for All' initiative to be implemented and developed  across the school

• Offering training to our staff, increasing confidence and knowledge and ability to deliver high quality PE sessions

• Developing a planned programme of wide ranging sports and activity enhancements to all pupils across school

• Delivering sports training to children to meet the needs of our context: water safety and swimming skills at a younger age to ensure children knwo how to keep themselves safe near water, Bikeability sessions for children.

Click here to read our Sports Premium report 2022-23

Click here to read our Sports Premium report 2021-22

Click here to read our Sports Premium report 2020-21

Click here to read more on the DfE Primary School’s Sports Funding page.