It comes as part of the Government’s new sport strategy published by The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). ‘Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity’ sets out a blueprint to improve the nation’s health and fitness, enhance corporate governance in the sport sector and make it more resilient to future challenges at elite and grassroots level.
The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is a charity working to support physical education, school sport and physical activity in educational contexts. The relationship between children and young peoples’ experiences in school and the wider community leading to lifelong habits, is irrefutable.
afPE is not an invited member of the National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) but feel it is important to make a statement in relation to the Government’s publication of the Sport Strategy. We are an independent organisation, and welcome the Get Active: A Strategy for the future of sport and physical activity. In particular, we know that a dedicated taskforce will make a difference to improving opportunities for all, and it is also capable of making that difference. We totally support the comment that ‘no single organisation… can make a difference to deliver ‘the scale of need’’. We also know from the afPE Taskforce recommendations that the free entitlement of every child to a transformational physical education lays the foundation to a lifelong love of and engagement with physical activity. We agree that ‘…Sport for some’, is not a journey they wish to embark upon, but we need to understand why and respect that their interest in alternative activities may be the route to participation and engagement. This is supported by such work as the Sport England ‘Studio You’ programme, which is an excellent example of creative thinking to improve participation.
afPE also welcomes the commitment to the ‘…passion and enjoyment of movement, developed during childhood, that can go a long way to create a positive foundation…’; something that again, starts in the Early Years. It then progresses throughout primary and secondary schools by embedding a progressive transformative PE, school sport and physical activity approach, as referenced in the School Sport and Activity Action plan published by the DfE in July 2023. This investment, and the sharing of effective case studies, will support the Sport Strategy along with cross-departmental and true inclusive sector engagement. We totally support that the ‘…ambition doesn’t mean that every child must now play sport (although for many this will be what they choose to do), but it highlights our commitment to levelling-up opportunities and embedding physical activity throughout every child’s life…’. Levelling up is key, as we see outstanding practice in many diverse communities, but it is not universal and we know that it must become the norm and not the exception.
We strongly advocate and believe that a cross-departmental approach, alongside a cross-sector approach, will be able to deliver a legacy that will improve the current situation, but that includes engaging with educational and community representatives that are living the experience. Swimming is a classic example of where we need to do more to facilitate participation, accessibility and levelling up across all communities.
As an physical educationist, we would love to hear from you and your views on how best to engage children and young people to achieve the National Curriculum PE aim of leading at healthy, active lifestyle.
We look forward to having the opportunity to be engaged with this strategy.
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