Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that all pupils are able to access physical education outdoors.

It is important that children continue to remain fit and active and take part in the 60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the Chief Medical Officers wherever possible. The Department encourages schools to offer outdoor opportunities for physical activity, but it is for them to decide whether they are satisfied that it is safe to do so given their circumstances and facilities.

Schools have the flexibility to decide how physical education (PE), sport and physical activity will be provided for their own students, following the measures in their system of controls. The Department has published guidance on how schools can provide outdoor PE and opportunities for pupils to be active, including links to detailed advice from subject organisations. Schools can offer outdoor curricular and extra-curricular team sport, including contact sport, where there is approved guidance from national governing bodies. Further guidance is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.