PE & Sports Premium FAQ’s

This is a question that often comes up, and the answer is yes you can! We work with lots of schools who use their PE & Sports funding for Outdoor Playground & Sports Equipment.

Outdoor equipment is sometimes classed as ‘capital expenditure’ within schools. However the DfE does not set the capitalisation policy within schools, therefore it is worth checking this policy and speaking with your school business manager  about this.

The DfE does not set the capitalisation policy for each school. School Business Managers, school accountants and their auditors are best placed to advise on school’s agreed capitalisation policy.

We encourage schools to consult with their school Business Manager, accountant or auditor to determine which items would be considered capital expenditure.

The funding must be spent providing long-term solutions for PE, sport and physical activity for the benefit of existing and future pupils. Improvements must be embedded in the system which will remain intact for years to come.

Schools must utilise the grant provided for the current academic year to enhance the students’ education, as per the DfE regulations. The funding must be spend by 31st July 2023.

Schools can allocate funding towards mental health initiatives that meet the criteria for using physical activity to achieve mental health-related outcomes.

If an assessment of current PE and sport resources reveals a demand for more resources, then the available funding can help meet such needs. However, it should not be used to upgrade existing core equipment that is still functioning. The funds are aimed at expanding curriculum offerings or boosting teacher skills in order to promote increased participations levels – efforts beyond what would already be funded by standard school budgets.

The payment is spread over two payment dates across the academic year, this is dependent on the type of organisation. You can find out more here

The amount granted is dependent on the amount of pupils in years 1-6 (or aged 5-10 in school’s without year groups), which is taken from the previous year school census. Click here to see how your schools funding is calculated

The majority of schools in England with primary-aged pupils will receive the PE and Sports Premium in the 2022-2023 academy year – further details can be found here