Did you know that the government is cutting it’s funding for our Schools Sport Partnerships (SSP) throughout the country next year? So no more School Sports co-ordinator, cycle proficiency, reduced competition opportunities…the list is long.
It’s no secret that until recently all of my children, except Little M, were in private schools. One of the children remain at their school whilst the other three are now in state schools. One of the biggest shocks for them all has been the huge reduction in sports time. Whereas previously they did sport everyday including matches at least once a week, often twice, they now have very little time. Yes, at their old school the hours were longer but sport was part of the curriculum. To be in teams at Big E and Big C’s school you must join after school clubs which isn’t practical as they have to get a school bus home.
To be honest I never even knew that this scheme existed but now that I do I am extremely worried about the impact this will have on my children. In the North Wealden area alone, the School Sport Partnership has provided over 1764 hours of additional sports activities, visited 54 schools to give 720 hours of multi skills coaching and had access to £26,456 of additional funding to help increase and promote healthy and active lifestyles within schools. Time allocated for sport has been increased by 25 minutes and 91% of children have 2 or more hours of sport a week now. What will happen when this provision is taken away? I dread to think.
Funding will now be down to the schools themselves, on budgets that are already stretched I doubt that sports will take high priority.
We have to do something……….hopefully your child’s school will have a petition that you can sign. It is so important that our children, the next generation, get the best start in life possible and that includes physical as well as educational motivation and encouragement. Please take time out to find the petition, and if it doesn’t exist consider asking for it to be made available. The aim is to get one million signatures.
Information sourced from North Wealden Schools Sport Partnership
I have had the same experience with private vs state having children at both. The difference between the two when it comes to sport is shocking. I can’t believe how short-sighted it is of the Govt to reduce these programmes. Especially with the growing obesity problem. It always makes me so cross that we have to pay even extra (on top of our taxes) to give our children a “better” education. We all need to start taking a stand.
Everytime I think about it I want to scream, cannot believe it. 🙁
I could not believe this when I heard it on the news. My children already complain there is too much classroom and not enough sport, I dread what might happen when the cuts take effect.
It’s unbelievable isn’t it. 🙁
Public education has to be the most important thing that the government funds – and yet they continue to slash funding and spend what little they have in a most irresponsible manner. It absolutely infuriates me that they seem to be blind to the fact that they are hurting the children.
I just cannot understand it, you’re right they just keep hurting the ones that need to be set a good example.