Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government plans to increase funding for after school activities.

On 9 October 2017, the former Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the member for Putney, announced plans for a project to enable disadvantaged children and young people living in some of the most deprived parts of the country to participate in regular extra-curricular activities. This includes after school and holiday provision.

The project involved £22 million of funding during the remainder of the Government’s current spending period to enable children and young people to develop essential life skills and to have the best start in life. It can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-launched-to-drive-social-mobility-in-opportunity-areas.

The project, the Essential Life Skills programme, is making an important contribution to the Department’s vision for an education system that prepares young people for life in modern Britain, regardless of their background or where they live.

The Essential Life Skills programme is targeting disadvantaged children aged 5 to 18 across 12 Opportunity Areas during academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19. Within each Opportunity Area, local authorities are receiving grants to develop their own Essential Life Skills programme to meet the needs of pupils and young people in their communities.

Funding that schools receive, including the pupil premium, can be used in whichever ways are appropriate for their pupils within and after the school day. It is a matter for schools to decide how best to meet the needs of their pupils.