PE and School Partnership Network Funding

What You Need To Know

Everything we know about the new PE and School Partnership Network

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the PE and School Partnership Network, a new £1 billion investment programme that will replace the previous PE and Sport Premium.

Launching fully in Spring 2027, the programme aims to improve PE, school sport and physical activity through a combination of revenue and capital funding. Unlike the previous PE and Sport Premium, funding will be delivered through a national delivery partner, working alongside national governing bodies for sport.

Although the full guidance has not yet been published, the government has confirmed several key details that schools can begin planning around.

PE and School Partnership Network funding at a glance

£1 billion investment over three years
Spring 2027 launch
Replaces the PE and Sport Premium
£100 million transitional funding before the full programme begins
£580 million to improve PE and school sport participation
£200 million capital funding for school sports facilities
Strong emphasis on improving access for girls, pupils with SEND and disadvantaged children

£100 million transition funding

Before the full programme launches, the government has confirmed £100 million will be made available to support schools during the transition from the PE and Sport Premium.

At this stage, it has not been announced which schools will receive this funding or how it will be allocated.

£580 million to improve PE and school sport

The largest portion of the investment will be used to improve PE and school sport, with a particular focus on increasing participation among:

Girls
Pupils with SEND
Disadvantaged children

The government says the programme is intended to move away from the previous “one-size-fits-all” approach by providing more targeted support where it is needed most.

£200 million capital funding for school sports facilities

The programme also includes financing to improve school sports facilities.

Alongside enhancing sports provision, the funding is intended to improve accessibility for girls, disadvantaged pupils and children with SEND.

While the detailed guidance has not yet been published, projects that encourage physical activity and improve access to outdoor sport may align well with the programme’s objectives.

Potential improvements could include:

Can PE and School Partnership Network funding be used for playground equipment?

The government has not yet confirmed exactly which types of equipment will be eligible.

However, because part of the programme focuses on increasing physical activity and improving access to sport, playground equipment that encourages active play may form part of eligible projects once the full guidance is released.

If your school is already considering improvements, now is a good opportunity to begin identifying priorities and developing plans so you’re ready when applications open.

How could the funding support pupils with SEND?

A key objective of the new programme is to increase participation in PE and physical activity for pupils with SEND.

Depending on the final funding guidance, schools may be able to improve inclusive outdoor provision through projects such as:

Creative Play has extensive experience designing outdoor environments for both mainstream and specialist settings, creating spaces that encourage participation for every child.

Why is the government introducing the PE and School Partnership Network?

The funding forms part of wider education reforms aimed at improving children’s health and increasing participation in physical activity.

According to the government:

Around 1 in 5 children are living with obesity by the end of primary school
Fewer than half of young people achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day
Girls, pupils with SEND and disadvantaged children are among those least likely to find opportunities to be physically active

The new programme aims to address these challenges by making PE and school sport more accessible and inclusive.

How is the PE and School Partnership Network different from the PE and Sport Premium?

The biggest change is how funding will be delivered.

Under the PE and Sport Premium, eligible schools received funding directly.

But the new PE and School Partnership Network will see funding instead distributed through a national delivery partner working with national governing bodies for sport.

Further details about how this process will work are expected before the programme launches.

What hasn’t been confirmed yet?

The government has announced the overall funding package, but some details are still to follow.

This includes:

Which schools will be eligible
How much individual schools can receive
How funding applications will work
The organisation that will deliver the programme

As these details are confirmed, we’ll continue updating this page with the latest information.

How Creative Play can help

Although applications are not yet open, schools can begin preparing future projects now.

Creative Play can provide:

Having these documents prepared in advance can make it quicker to apply once the funding process is announced.

Keep up to date

The PE and School Partnership Network is expected to launch in Spring 2027, with further announcements likely before then.

We’ll continue updating this page as new information becomes available, explaining what each announcement means for schools planning improvements to their outdoor play, PE and sports facilities.

Be ready when funding applications open

Schools that have already identified their priorities and developed a project plan will be in a stronger position when further guidance is released. We can help you assess your site, create a design and provide the information needed to move your project forward.

Start Planning Your Project Today

Want to explore even more playground funding options?

Check out the Creative Play Funding Guide