Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Paragraph: 87
Limited and unsustainable sports-based interventions hinder improved school attendance for pupils.
Conclusion
We heard limited evidence that schools were offering sports-based interventions to improve school attendance, despite the benefits of sport to pupil engagement. We did hear of localised interventions that are offering some provision, but the position of these interventions is often unsecure and unsustainable due to the lack of direct support from the Government. The Government certainly values sport and activity, and recognises the impact on pupil wellbeing through its update to the School Sport and Activity Action Plan. But there is a lack of recognition for third sector and community organisations providing valuable interventions.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion about limited sports-based interventions for attendance, but primarily describes existing programmes like the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and the Pupil Premium, which allow schools to fund sport and wider strategies to support attendance.
Paragraph Reference:
87
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provides enriching activities and nutritious meals to children in school holidays, with free places for children eligible for free school meals. Sport and physical activities are often a popular feature of HAF provision, and the Department funds councils through a grant to develop and make available HAF programmes in their areas. The Government is committed to supporting children from low-income families to achieve their potential, including £5bn investment in education recovery and £2.9bn annually in the pupil premium. The pupil premium funds evidence-based high-quality teaching, targeted academic support and wider strategies that will benefit pupils and help to raise their attainment. This can include wider strategies and/or interventions to support attendance. The Department is supporting schools to consider how their pupil premium can support attendance, for example there will be a webinar on this topic in November 2023. To ensure that the pupil premium and recovery premium are focused on effective approaches to raising the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils, schools must use their pupil premium in line with the ‘menu of approaches’ set by the Department. The menu has been developed and assessed in line with the EEF’s 3-tiered approach to help schools allocate spending across the following 3 key areas: support for high-quality teaching, such as staff professional development; provision of targeted academic support, such as tutoring, including through the National Tutoring Programme; tackling non-academic barriers to academic success, such as difficulties in attendance, and supporting extra-curricular activities, including sport, music lessons and school trips.