Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities have opportunities to take part in physical education and sport within schools.

Physical education (PE) is a foundation subject at all four Key Stages, and it is a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils to access. Schools are expected to develop a sporting curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, during PE lessons and in extracurricular sporting activity.

On 8 March 2023, the Government committed over £600 million in funding over the next two years for primary schools, including special schools to provide high quality PE and school sport to all pupils. £57 million up to March 2025 was additionally announced to deliver phase three of the Opening School Facilities Programme which will support schools in low socio-economic areas to open their sports facilities in the evenings, during weekends and in the holidays.

The Department funds two other programmes to support pupils access to PE and school sport. The Girls Your Time initiative, worth up to £980,000 up to March 2024, is increasing opportunities for girls aged 8 to 16 to access competitive sport and sport leadership opportunities. The Inclusion 2024 grant, which is worth up to £900,000 up to March 2024, is providing practical support to schools to increase opportunities for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs to engage in sport and physical exercise.