New plan to help children get active

The government’s new School Sport and Activity Action Plan has been hailed as a great step forward by our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth.

With our Active Lives Survey showing that a third of children are currently doing fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a day, the government has developed a plan to give children greater opportunity to access 60 minutes of daily sport and physical activity.

The new plan sets out a range of new measures to strengthen the role of physical activity within a young person’s daily routine, to explain how teachers and parents can play their part, and to promote a joined-up approach to physical activity and mental wellbeing.

We'll invest an additional £2 million to create 400 new after-school ‘satellite clubs’ to get more young people from disadvantaged areas active, as well as additional funding to better coordinate sport programmes and competitions for young people.

“This year we conducted the biggest piece of research ever into children’s activity and found that physically literate children are happier, more resilient and trusting of other youngsters,” said Tim.

“We also found that enjoyment is the biggest single factor that motivates children to be active above competence or knowing it’s good for them.

“We are delighted to be working at the heart of the new School Sport and Activity Action Plan to embed those learnings, as well as making it easier for schools to offer more activities during the school day and after lessons, not least through creating another 400 new Satellite Clubs and a This Girl Can workout resource for teenage girls.

“Every child has the right to be active and find an activity they love. And the School Sport and Activity Action Plan is a great step forward.”

As part of our 2016-21 strategy Building an Active Nation, we're already investing £194m in children and young people.

However, with our world-leading Active Lives Children and Young People Survey showing that more than 80% of children are not meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of more than 60 minutes of activity a day, every day, there's still work to do.

“As a parent I want my children to be happy and healthy. As Education Secretary, I want young people to leave school prepared for adult life,” said Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds.

“Sport can help with both – it not only keeps pupils fit and healthy but helps them grow in confidence and learn vital skills, such as teamwork and recovering from life’s inevitable setbacks.

“My ambition is for every pupil to have the chance to find a sport they love, setting them up to lead healthy, active lives and equipping them with the skills to reach their full potential, both inside and outside the classroom.”