PE and sport premium for primary schools

About the PE and sport premium

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.day, Children with specialthe educationalrecommendation needsfor disabled children and disabilitiesyoung shouldpeople takebeing part in 20 minutes of dailyphysical activity.activity per day.

TheIt Childhoodis Obesityimportant Plan says that atschools leastare 30supporting minuteschildren ofand dailyyoung activitypeople should take place in schools.

Schools have a key role to playachieve in achieving this aim. This is particularly true of primary schools where the foundations of positive and enjoyable participation in regular physical activity are embedded. All

The Department for Education (DfE) wants all children shouldto have equal access to high-quality high-quality PE provision provision and opportunities to experience and participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities. Academic achievement can improve in school because of the benefits children can gain.

Schools should useaim theto provide high-quality PE and and sport premiumfor fundingat toleast help2 achievehours thesea aims.week, Itcomplemented mustby nota bewide usedrange forof core-typeextracurricular schoolsport activities.and Theycompetitive shouldopportunities. useBy itproviding tothis makeit additionalcan andhelp sustainableimprove improvementschildren’s tohealth theand PE,wellbeing, sportpersonal anddevelopment physicalas activitywell theyas provide,academic such as:attainment.  

• funding

  Schools high-qualityshould use the PE and and sport forpremium atfunding leastto 2support hourschildren ato week,meet complemented60 byactive aminutes wideand rangeachieve ofthe extracurricularabove sportaims. andThis competitivefunding opportunities

• providingmust ornot improvingbe equalused access to sport for boyscore-type andschool girls

activities. Schools should prioritiseuse PEit and sport premium spending to improve in the following 5 key areas:to:  

• increasingmake alladditional staff’s confidence, knowledge and skillssustainable inimprovements teachingto the PE, and sport
• increasing engagementand of all pupils in regular physical activity andthey sportprovide
• raisingprovide theor profileimprove ofequal PEaccess andto sport acrossfor theboys school,and to support whole school improvementgirls
• offerensure ateachers broaderhave the relevant skills and moreknowledge equalto experienceconfidently ofteach aPE rangein ofa sportsstructured andway, physicalprioritising activitiescontinued toprofessional alldevelopment pupils
• increase(CPD) participationand intraining competitivewhere sportneeded

Eligibility

Most schools with primary-age pupils receive the PE and sport premium. The exceptions are:

• nursery schools
• studio schools
• university technical colleges
• independent schools, except for non-maintained special schools

How funding is calculated and the amounts payable for 20232024 to 20242025

Schools receive PE and sport premium funding based on the number of pupils they have in years 1 to 6. In cases where schools may not have set year groups (for example, in some special schools), pupils aged 5 to 10 attract the funding.

In most cases, we determine funding by using data from the January 20232024 school census. For a new school, or a school teaching eligible pupils for the first time in the academic year 20232024 to 2024,2025, funding is based on data from the autumn 20232024 school census.

For the year 20232024 to 2024,2025, the amounts payable will be:

• schools with 16 or fewer eligible pupils will receive £1,000 per pupil
• schools with 17 or more eligible pupils will receive £16,000 and an additional payment of £10 per pupil

Payment dates for 20232024 to 20242025

Maintained schools, including PRUs and generalhospital hospitalsschools

Maintained schools, including pupil referral units (PRUs) and generalhospital hospitals,schools, do not receive funding directly from the Department for Education (DfE).. We give the funding to the local authority and they pass it on to the school.

We give local authorities PE and sport premium funding for maintained schools in 2 separate payments. They will receive:

• 7/12 of the funding allocation on 31 October 20232024
• 5/12 of the funding allocation on 30 April 20242025

For a new maintained school or forone a school that is teaching eligible pupils for the first time in the 20232024 to 20242025 academic year, local authorities will receive:

• 7/12 of the school’s funding allocation on 2928 February 20242025
• 5/12 of the school’s funding allocation on 30 April 20242025

Academies and free schools

We send academies (including free schools) the PE and sport premium funding in 2 separate payments. They will receive:

• 7/12 of the funding allocation on 8 November 20232024
• 5/12 of the funding allocation on 89 MarchMay 20242025

An academy (including a free school) which is new, or teaching eligible pupils for the first time in the 20232024 to 20242025 academic year, will receive:

• 7/12 of the funding allocation on 810 March 20242025
• 5/12 of the funding allocation on 89 May 20242025

Each qualifying school within a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) will receive an allocation of PE and sport premium grant funding. If this funding is then pooled by the MAT, it does not remove the requirement for it to be used for the benefit of the children in every primary school in the MAT.

Non-maintained special schools

We send non-maintained special schools the PE and sport premium funding in 2 separate payments. They will receive:

• 7/12 of the funding allocation on 18 December 20232024
• 5/12 of the funding allocation ionon 18 April 20242025

Using the PE and sport premium

Any use of the PE and sport premium must be in accordance with the terms outlined in the conditions of grant document. This means schools must use the PE and sport premium to:

• build capacity and capability in the school and make sure that improvements made to the quality of PE, sport and physical activity provision now are sustainable and will benefit pupils joining the school in future
• develop or add to the PE, sport and physical activity that the school provides

ContinuedEffective professionalways developmentto spend the premium  

SchoolsIt shouldis seeimportant thethat continuedschools professionalmake developmentthe (CPD)most effective use of teachersthe aspremium. aTo keybest priorityachieve tothis, makespending sureshould thatfocus theon futuremaking qualityimprovements ofin the5 teachingkey of PE,areas, sportto andassist physicalin:  

• increasing activityconfidence, isknowledge sustainable.and Thisskills includesof providingall staff with:
  • professionalin development
  • mentoring
  • appropriateteaching PE and trainingsporting activities
  • accessincreasing toengagement externalof resources

  Weall recommendpupils thatin schoolsregular usephysical establishedactivity qualityand assuredsporting local,activities

• raising regionalthe andprofile nationalof PE and subject-specificsport andacross suitablythe qualifiedschool, CPDto providers.

  Schoolssupport shouldwhole monitorschool andimprovement

• offer assessa thebroader effectivenessand ofmore theequal CPDexperience beingof provideda torange makeof suresports thatand itphysical isactivities up to standard.

  Otherall effectivepupils

• increasing waysparticipation toin spendcompetitive the premiumsport

SchoolsThese canmay also:be achieved by: 

• embedembedding physical activity into the school day by encouraging active travel to and from school and having active break times
• provideproviding targeted activities or support to involve and encourage the least active children
• helphelping to provide equal access for all pupils to the range of sports and physical activities that the school offers

Schools

providing cancontinued alsoprofessional usedevelopment the PE(CPD) andfor sportall premiumstaff (as outlined previously)

providing extra-curricular opportunities for children to raiseenable attainmentthem into primaryaccess schoolother swimmingsporting andactivities wateror safetyspecialist bysport fundinginstruction

providing top-up swimming sessionsand water safety lessons for those pupils that do not meet national curriculum requirements after they’vethey have completed core swimming lessons.and water safety lessons

providing specialist support to help children with additional needs to access and participate fully in PE lessons

entering local school competitions and holding inter-house competitions in the school to encourage participation

We’ve collated real-life working Examples of effective PE and sport premium spending (PDF, 111 KB, 4 pages)] to help understand ways this can be implemented.

SustainabilityContinuing professional development

Achieving sustainable outcomes is key to any spending of the PE and sport premium. CPD is essential to help ensure that the quality of the teaching of high-quality PE, sport and physical activity in a school is sustainable. Schools should prioritise spending the PE and sport premium.premium on it. This includes providing staff with:

• professional development
• mentoring and support
• appropriate training
• access to external resources

BeforeIt makingis anyacceptable decisionto onengage whatthe expertise of external coaches to provide teachers with the fundingconfidence shouldand necessary skills to be usedable for,to deliver high quality PE and sport.  

We recommend that schools (inuse particular,established governorsquality assured local, regional and trustees)national subject-specific, and suitably qualified CPD providers. 

Schools should considermonitor howand assess the spendingeffectiveness willof benefitthe futureCPD pupilsbeing andprovided whatto make sure that it is up to standard.

Every school has the lastingautonomy legacyto ofdraft thistheir spendingown willemployment be.contracts. This may include specific expectations for their staff and teachers like:

• offering extra-curricular sporting activities
• supporting pupil competition outside of core school hours.

Schools shouldcan focusdecide theirto effortsuse onPE upskillingand thesport wholepremium funding to pay for overtime if teaching staff workforceare sooperating thatoutside theyof feeltheir confidentteaching contract. This may be, for example, to:

• offer CPD for staff
• offer additional extra-curricular sporting activities and ablephysical activities
• support pupils in competition

Any funding to cover teaching during the school day should come out of core school budgets.  

Schools will need to assess how overtime payments can lead ato additional and sustainable improvements to the PE, lessonsport independently.and physical activity they provide.

Use of external coaches

SchoolsWhilst we acknowledge that schools may wishwant to engage the expertise of coaches and external coachesorganisations to offer their pupils a wider variety of sports.sports and activities for their pupils, we would expect schools to use this as an opportunity to upskill teaching staff.

As part of meeting the aim to make sustainable improvements to provision, coach-led activity should include staff development. By upskilling staff, it could then remove the need for regular coach-led incentives, as staff would have the knowledge and skills to be able to deliver or support specific sport or activity provision.   

Governing bodies, trustees or proprietors should seek assurance that providers have appropriate safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures in place, including inspecting these as needed.

Transport costs  

WeSchools doshould not expect:be using the PE and sport premium to pay for transport associated with meeting the minimum requirements of the national curriculum or, for academies, the existing PE curriculum. This would include travel to swimming lessons, travel to outdoor adventure activities or other sports or activities the school was providing access to during the school day.   

Schools can use the PE and sport premium to:

• thesefund coachestransport costs to replacetop-up theswimming needsessions
• participate forin thecompetitive primaryevents teaching(either staffduring or outside the school day)
• schoolstravel to useextra-curricular theopportunities grantto enable children access to fundother annuallysporting repeatedactivities coach-ledor initiativesspecialist sport instruction

Spending

Support innetworks anand academic year

organisations  

SchoolsThere mustare spendseveral theorganisations and networks that support schools with their PE and sport premiumpremium. fundingWe inhave fullincluded withinrelevant links to further guidance and support at the academicend yearof itthis hasguidance beenas allocatedexamples. for.We Fundingalso shouldwant notto bemake allocatedschools aware of the School Games Organiser network and Active Partnerships. 

School Games Organisers network  

School Games Organisers (SGOs) support all children to onlyhave benefitthe aopportunity certainto yeartake group.part in competitive sport. This national network of SGOs works directly with local schools to coordinate inclusive sport competitions across 40 different sports and activities.

SchoolsIn cannotMarch roll2023, over£22 anymillion unusedwas fundingcommitted intoto support the followingSGO network for two academic year. Theyyears mustuntil spend2025, by the fundingDepartment beforefor 31Culture, JulyMedia 2024and soSport it(DCMS) canand bethe accountedDepartment forof in:Health and Social Care (DHSC). The investment into the SGO network is managed by Sport England on behalf of DCMS, and Sport England invests in the Youth Sport Trust (YST) to play a coordinating and supportive role directly to the network.   

SGOs have several key roles, to:

• thecoordinate school’sappropriate publishedcompetitive onlineopportunities reportfor all young people from Key Stage 2 to 4
• recruit, train, and deploy a suitable workforce
• support the newdevelopment digitalof PEclub opportunities for all young people

Schools may wish to get in touch with their local SGO to determine whether there are any avenues for engagement or support. Your local SGO may be able to signpost you to relevant opportunities for your pupils to get active.

Find out more about the School Games programme.   

Active Partnerships  

Active Partnerships (APs) is a nationwide physical activity and sport premiumnetwork reportingthat toolexists (onceto create a healthier, fairer nation. The 43 local APs across the country take a place-based approach to reducing disparities and partner with local and national stakeholders to transform lives through sport and physical activity. APs are supported and funded by Sport England to co-deliver the ambitions of its 10-year Uniting the Movement strategy.  

Schools may wish to get in place) touch with the local AP to determine whether there are any avenues for engagement or support. You can find your local AP through the Active Partnerships website.

What the PE and sport premium shouldcannot not be used for

Funding must not be used for:

• capital expenditureexpenditure, (exceptexcept for goods withinbelow the de minimis value for(the purchasesthreshold limit value set byfor purchases) – items above this limit would be recognised as an asset on the school)school’s balance sheet
• employing coaches or specialist teachers to cover planning preparation and assessment arrangements (this should be funded from the school’s core staffing budgets)
• teaching the minimum requirements of the national curriculum or, for academies, the existing PE curriculum –(teaching apartthe fromcurriculum top-upshould swimmingbe lessonsfunded afterthrough pupilsthe haveschool’s completed core lessons.funding)
• staff Teachingsalaries, thefor curriculumexample shouldusing beyour fundedpremium throughfunding allocation to employ someone whose role is to specifically administer the school’sPE coreand sport premium, or to use your entire funding allocation to employ someone that is responsible for arranging and running PE, sport or activity sessions
• buying services that will be delivered or used in following academic years (this includes paying for invoices and subscriptions in advance)
• buying staff PE kit

Examples of what comes under capital expenditure include:

• multi-use games areas and Dailyactive Milemile tracks
• Forestforest Schoolschool environments and Trim Trails
• buying vehicles
• fixed playground equipment, such as climbing frames
• trophy cabinets or similar

Examples of what schools should pay for from their staffing budget include:

• subsidisingfunding coreto staffing,cover suchteaching asduring PEthe subjectschool leaders or external coaches who are engaged in repeated annual initiativesday
• funding the cost of a teaching assistant or apprentice to deliver deliver PE lessons lessons instead of primary teaching staff

Schools receive separate funding for the national PE curriculum. An example that falls under this is swimming and water safety lessons and any associated costs, other than additional top-up lessons for pupils who have not been able to meet the national curriculum requirements.

Defining capital expenditure

Schools can only use PE and sport premium funding for revenue expenditure. If you’re not sure whether a particular cost can be classified as revenue expenditure, ask for local professional advice. We cannot provide individual advice on this.

Capital expenditure for the purposes of this grant funding is defined as: ‘The purchase of an asset (tangible or intangible), or expenditure which adds to/enhancesto or enhances and not merely maintains the value of an existing asset.’

For expenditure to be treated as capital, the asset must:

• be used for more than one year
• be above the school’s (local authority’s or trust’s) de minimis threshold for recognition of assets to its balance sheet - this can include:
  • individual assets worth over the de minimis threshold
  • grouped assets, that is assets of a similar nature that the school buys at the same time, which cost more than the de minimis threshold
  • bulked assets, for example a bulk purchase of equipment where the value of the individual item is below the set value, which cost more overall than the de minimis threshold
• increase the useful life, performance or value of the asset

If the spending would trigger asset recognition for the school or local authority, under your own local accounting policy, the spending would not be eligible to be funded through this grant.

Schools can use grant funds to maintain existing assets because the funding can be used towards maintenance costs. For example, repainting lines on the playground is allowableallowable. asThe the playground should already be recognised as an asset, and the cost of repainting lines on it is a revenue maintenance cost.

Swimming and water safety lessons  

Schools receive general funding for curriculum provision, which includes swimming and water safety lessons. Schools should therefore not use the PE and sport premium to fund curriculum swimming and water safety lessons. 

Schools can use PE and sport premium funding to provide top-up swimming and water safety sessions. This can include the cost of transport for those pupils that do not meet national curriculum requirements after they have completed core swimming and water safety lessons.

Accountability and reporting

Schools are accountable for how they use the PE and sport premium funding allocated to them. The school’s senior leadership team should make sure that the funding is spent for the purpose it has been providedprovided: - that is to make additional and sustainable improvements to the PE, sport and physical activity offered.

As part of their role, governors and academy trustees should monitor how the funding is being spent and determine how it fits into school improvement plans and assess the impact it is having on pupils. To assist with this, in conjunction with the National Governance Association (NGA) and the Local Government Association (LGA) we have devised a monitoring tool that can be used for this purpose.

Schools, local authorities and academy proprietors must follow the terms set out in the conditions of grant document. If a school, local authority or academy proprietor fails to comply with these terms, the Secretary of State may require the school to repay all or any part of the premium paid.

Spending in an academic year  

Schools must spend the PE and sport premium funding in full within the academic year it has been allocated for. As partfunding ofis provided for all pupils in years 1 to 6, it should not be allocated to only benefit a certain year group.  

Schools cannot roll over any unused funding into the conditionsfollowing ofacademic grant,year. schoolsThey must publishspend athe reportfunding detailingbefore how31 theyJuly have2025 spentso theirit can be accounted for in the PE and sport premium fundingdigital allocationreporting onform.

Digital theirreporting form  

From July 2025, all schools must complete the digital reporting form. The digital form outlines how the school websitehas byused 31its PE and Julysport 2024.premium and the impact it has had on achieving the aims and objectives of the funding.

ReportsThe mustdigital include:

• theform amountcontains a series of questions and free text boxes. Schools can enter details on how the PE and sport premium received
has been used to make improvements in the 5 key areas highlighted in this guidance. It can also be used to generate the necessary online report. The information gathered includes:
• afigures fullon breakdownthe ofoverall howspend
• what itthe funding has been spent,spent includingon
• whether justifyingthere is any additionalunspent costsfunding
• swimming incurredand water safety attainment

The digital form will go live during May or June 2025, and describing:

• will remain open until 31st July 2025.

  DfE will provide separate guidance to support schools with the measurablecompletion impactof thatthe digital form. The link to the form and supporting guidance will be shared with schools by late June 2025. To allow for comparisons to be made, when publishing the digital form download, schools should retain the previous year’s written report on the school’s website.

  Online Report  

  As part of the conditions of grant, by 31 July 2025 a school hasmust seenpublish on pupils’its website a report detailing how it has spent its PE and attainment,sport physicalpremium activityfunding allocation. If a school chooses to download a copy of its digital form return and sportuse participationthis dueas its published report, it must ensure that the form is converted to HTML format to meet accessibility requirements.

  The published report must include:

  • the spendingamount of premium funding received
  • a full breakdown of how theit spendhas willbeen bespent
  • the sustainableimpact inseen by the futureschool on pupils’ participation and attainment in PE and sport
• how this improvement will be sustained

SchoolsThe report must also publishcontain details on the percentage of pupils withinin its year 6 cohortwho inhave met the 2023national tocurriculum 2024requirement academicto:

• swim yearcompetently, whoconfidently metand theproficiently nationalover curriculuma swimmingdistance andof waterat safetyleast requirements.25 Wemetres
• use collecta thisrange asof partstrokes ofeffectively a– school’sfor PEexample, front crawl, backstroke and sportbreaststroke
• perform premiumsafe reportingself-rescue requirementsin evendifferent thoughwater-based situations

In the fundingcase canof onlya beMAT usedwhich tomay provideinclude additionalseveral supportprimary forschools, pupilsand failingthe toPE meetand thesport curriculumpremium standards.

Schoolsfunding shouldmay providebe attainmentpooled, datathis fordoes yearnot 6remove pupilsthe fromrequirement theirfor mosteach recentindividual swimmingschool lessons.to Thispublish maydetails beof datahow fromit previoushas years,spent dependingits PE and onsport thepremium swimmingfunding programmeallocation. atThe theMAT school.cannot Schoolspublish musta keepsingle attainmentdocument datato fromcover swimmingall lessonsschools, innor yearswill 3the todigital 5tool toallow befor ablea MAT to reportcomplete thisone accuratelyform infor yearall 6.schools.

PE Funding Evaluation Form

To help schools plan,plan monitor and reportmonitor on the impact of theirthe PE and sport premium spending, partners in the the PE and and school sport sector have developed a planningPE toolFunding andEvaluation aForm. recordingThis template.can Thesebe arefound on the the Association for for PE and(afPE)  and Youth Sport Trust  websites. WeSchools recommendmay thatfind schoolsit helpful to use thesethis to plan and record how they use the the PE and and sport premium throughout the year,year toin bereadiness readyof tocompleting publish the reportdigital reporting tool at the end of the school year.year.  

ReviewMonitoring of onlinePE reportsand sport premium spending    

We’llIf continuea to monitor published reports.report We’llindicates lookconcerns ator adiscrepancies selectionin ofspend reports to confirm that the use of the PE and sport premium described in therelation reportto meets the requirementsconditions outlinedof withingrant this guidance and the conditionsrequirements ofin grantthe document.

Ifguidance, wethe identifydepartment concernsmay ortake discrepancies,appropriate we’lland contactproportionate theaction. schoolThis tomay addressinclude andaction investigateto theserecover fully.funding.  

Swimming Ifand anywater concernssafety aredata confirmed,collection  

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Digitalwe tool

We’llacknowledge bethat introducingschools amay newuse digital PE and sport premium reportingto toolimprove forswimming schools.and Thiswater digitalsafety toolattainment, willeither capturethrough detailsteacher ontraining howopportunities aor schoolthrough hastop-up usedswimming itsand PEwater andsafety sportlessons.

The premiumnational andcurriculum theoutlines impactthat itschools hasmust hadprovide onswimming achievingand thewater aimssafety andin objectiveskey ofstage the1 funding.

Theor informationkey gatheredstage will2. include:Pupils must be taught to: 

• figuresswim oncompetently, theconfidently overalland spend
• whatproficiently theover fundinga hasdistance beenof spentat onleast 25 metres
• whetheruse therea isrange anyof unspentstrokes fundingeffectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke)
• swimmingperform andsafe waterself-rescue safetyin attainmentdifferent water-based situations

We’llDue pilotto thethis digitalnational toolcurriculum forexpectation and given that the academicPE yearand 2023sport premium can be used to 2024.boost Itswimming willand bewater asafety mandatoryattainment, requirementwe forwill continue to require schools to completeprovide itdata fromon the percentage of pupils within its year 6 cohort in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

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Further guidance and support

You can get further guidance at:

• YouthAssociation Sport Trustfor PE - -advice primaryon the PE and sport premium, PE Funding Evaluation Form and sportSafe premiumPractice in Physical Education and School Sport and Physical Activity
• National Governance Association forguidance - use of the PE and -sport advicepremium onand how governing boards can influence and support the planning and delivery of PE, premiumas well as physical activity and sport, and monitor the impact
• Sport England - - advice on using the the PE and and sport premium effectively
• Swim England - - advice and resources on primary school swimming and water safety
• DfE teacherThe blogBlack Swimming Association -– bestadvice practiceon examplesunderstanding ofand howaddressing schoolsbarriers arethat usinglimit their premiumcommunities effectively
• Nationalof GovernanceAfrican, AssociationCaribbean, guidanceand -Asian useheritage offrom theengaging PEin aquatics and sportwater premiumsafety
• The andInclusive howEducation governingHub boards- canan influenceonline andplatform supportof theresources planningto andhelp deliveryschools ofmake PE, as well as physical activity and sport,sport andmore monitor the impactinclusive
• ActiveYouth PartnershipSport Trust - - further advice on howthe bestPE and tosport usepremium and the PE andevaluation sport premiumForm

Other helpful guidance documents are:

• keeping children safe in education - statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment
• keeping children safe in out-of-school settings - information for providers, parents and carers on keeping children safe in community activities, after school clubs, tuition, sports training and other out of school settings