New data released by Sport England shows children and young people’s physical activity levels remain broadly unchanged in the past year, with inactivity levels remaining persistently high.
The Active Lives Children and Young People survey data released by Sport England today shows:
- 47.8% of children are meeting the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of sport and physical activity every day
- Of particular concern is the low activity levels of young people in school years 3-4 (ages 7-9) which again sit at just 41% ‘active’ in 23/24 (40% active in 22/23) in comparison to 53% in years 1-2
- Significant inequalities in activity levels remain, with Black (42%) and Asian (43%) children and young people, and those from the least affluent families (45%) still less likely to play sport or be more physically active than the average across all ethnicities and affluence groups, and girls (45%) less likely to be active than boys (51%)
Responding to the findings, Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE said: “It’s alarming to see children and young people’s physical activity levels have failed to increase over the past year. Unless we take urgent action to deliver change, things will not improve. The Youth Sport Trust is calling for the Government to create a new national plan guaranteeing every child daily opportunities to be active through PE, sport and play. In the interim, it is crucial funding delivering physical activity is confirmed beyond the current financial year so existing opportunities are not lost.
“Increasing physical levels is imperative if the Government is to achieve its mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ambition to create the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever in Britain. However, today’s Active Lives data release from Sport England confirms the scale of the challenge we face to make this a reality. 3.6 million children are still not physically active for an average of 60 daily minutes across the week, as recommended by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers. As a result, they are missing out on benefits which come from being active including improved wellbeing, development and access to skills.
“Is it concerning to see inequalities in activity levels remain stark, with Black and Asian children and young people as well as those from the least affluent families less likely to be active than the average across all ethnicities and affluence groups, and girls still less active than boys. This reinforces the need to target investment and opportunities towards those from under-served groups so every child is given opportunities to be physically active from an early age. The report also highlights less positive attitudes towards sport and physical activity amongst the ‘pandemic generation’ who must also be supported to strengthen engagement with movement to increase participation.
“Children’s activity levels have remained broadly static since the pandemic. With a generation challenged by the long tail of Covid-19, the impact of digital lifestyles and increased cost of living in recent years, that activity levels have not fallen further is testament to the dedication of those working to support children to be active who make an invaluable contribution daily. However, we cannot be happy with stagnation and are clear that things will not improve without a new approach reflecting the needs of this generation. As we set out on World Children’s Day alongside our National School Sport Champion Sir Mo Farah and other leading British Olympians and Paralympians, now is the time for a new national plan guaranteeing every child daily opportunities to be physically active.
“Key to this is a coordinated approach which sees policy aligned across government departments and targets every stage of childhood. A new plan should ensure all children are healthy movers before starting school, deliver greater physical activity in schools including by reimagining the world-leading school sport partnership network which thrived under the last Labour government, and target activity towards those whose participation is held back by systemic barriers including by embracing youth voice.
“With so many opportunities for policy change on the table, now is the time to embed a unifying ambition to elevate children’s activity levels across government. The new National Youth Strategy, Children’s Wellbeing Bill, Curriculum and Assessment Review, changes to Ofsted and introduction of free breakfast clubs all have the potential to increase participation in sport and play activity to transform lives. These are opportunities which must be grasped to unlock the power of physical activity for development, wellbeing and access to skills, as well as to support socialisation and help children have fun.
“We stand ready to share our insights and expertise to shape a new national plan for our nation’s children. In the meantime, we are severely concerned activity levels will fall even further over the next 12 months unless existing support which delivers opportunities to be physically active is maintained. The Government can provide much-needed reassurance and stability to the sector by acting now and confirming funding for the School Games Organiser network, PE and Sport Premium for primary schools and Opening School Facilities programme beyond the current financial year. Not only can this protect provision now to prevent more children becoming inactive, but it can secure a strong platform to build on so we can increase activity levels in the future, providing every child with an active start in life.”
With physical activity notably absent from the National Youth Strategy, a bespoke plan to raise activity levels across the board is essential, added ukactive. Now is the time for real action to address this stagnation before it is too late and promise every child a healthier and more active future.
ukactive CEO Huw Edwards said: “This is the clearest sign yet that progress on our children’s activity levels is flatlining, which represents a grave warning for the health and happiness of our young people.
“These figures demonstrate the need for the Government to deliver an industry-supported strategy to dramatically improve children’s activity levels, if it is to deliver on its ambition to create the ‘healthiest and happiest generation of children ever’.
“In particular, the figures around children’s swimming are hugely concerning, having not returned to pre-pandemic levels – we must ensure children have access to swimming as a basic lifesaving skill.
“The results show gyms and fitness facilities provide a successful recipe for engaging children and young people, however, their potential to reach more children has been limited by the lack of bespoke support from Government. This has been compounded by new financial pressures which threaten vital jobs, services and affordable prices, as detailed in ukactive’sletterto the Chancellor following the Autumn Budget.
“As a minimum, the Government must commit to continue support for existing programmes such as the Opening School Facilities programme, the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and the PE and School Sports Premium, but to really have an impact, the vision and support must go much further.
“This will require a collective effort from the Government and its agencies, working in collaboration with the sector across society to meaningfully shift the dial on children’s activity levels. We are ready to play our fullest role in delivering change.”
