Experts call for special sport and activity 'recovery term' when schools fully reopen

The government have been urged to create a special “recovery term” that prioritises sport, activity, physical education and time spent outdoors when schools can fully reopen.

With Boris Johnson admitting that March 8 is now the earliest possible resumption of full face-to-face education, sports and youth leaders want urgent planning to mitigate the potentially catastrophic mental and physical damage of almost nine months out of school for many children over the past year.

As well as making PE, extracurricular sport and physical activity central to the daily offering, they also want school sport facilities to be accessible this year throughout the Easter, May half-term and summer holidays.

Almost three-quarters of teachers identified ‘low physical fitness’ as an issue when children returned to the classroom last September and there are fears that the situation will be even worse following a winter lockdown compounded by the closure of all sports clubs.

Telegraph Sport has launched a ‘Keep Kids Active’ campaign which calls on the government to implement a specific range of measures that address the current crisis but also prioritise reopening children’s activity and a long-term national plan.

Backed by the government, Sport England published a new 10-year activity strategy on Tuesday with the needs of children and young people at its heart.

Fewer than one in five children currently consider themselves to be physically literate and there is particular concern at rising obesity levels and declining mental health, with one in six children identified with ‘probable mental disorders’ in 2020 compared to one in nine in 2017.

Experts now want the government’s promise that sport and physical activity will be “at the heart” of its Covid-19 recovery to be backed up with clear guidance for when schools do reopen. They are also calling for a national plan which sets the target of having the world’s happiest and most active children. An early guarantee over the annual £320 million PE and School Sport premium for primary schools is also sought.

“It is vital that clear guidance is provided around the safe provision of daily physical activity, PE and after school sport over the next six weeks so school leaders and teachers know this is an important priority and can feel confident in their delivery on reopening,” said Ali Oliver, the chief executive of the Youth Sports Trust.

“Sadly, we know that some schools felt they had no choice but to reduce provision of PE and after school sport when they returned in September due to a lack of clarity around what they could and couldn’t do. This cannot happen again. PE and sport are not a ‘nice to have’ in children’s lives, and today more than ever they are essential to their physical, social and emotional development.

“When schools are back we would love to see a national ‘recovery term’ characterised by active schools, time outdoors and a greater focus on PE and daily activity. Twelve weeks of concerted effort across our sector could be a wonderful way to demonstrate to children and young people, as well as parents and carers that their wellbeing matters and we recognise their need to reconnect, play and have fun again.”

Jack Shakespeare, ukactive's director of children, young people, families and research, stressed the potential social benefit of school sport facilities during this year’s holidays.

“It is imperative that a plan for the restart of youth sport and activity is in place, supported by full and clear guidance, for safe and well-organised delivery and participation,” he said. A recovery plan should also include the opening up of school facilities during the Easter, May half-term and Summer holiday periods, with schools working with third-party community providers to ensure high-quality, Covid-secure and fun activity provision across the country.” Alan Watkinson, who is the founder of the School’s Active Movement, which provides free PE support and advice to schools, said that children’s development “has been serious compromised by the past year”. He also stressed the urgent need to make plans ahead of school reopening “so that the work can start now and not at a later date when we will be in even greater crisis”.

The Telegraph’s Keep Kids Active campaign has won the backing of numerous star athletes, governing bodies and prominent politicians and administrators.