This one day online conference will bring school leaders, stakeholders and officials together to examine priorities for PE and sports provision for children and young people.

It follows the recent Government announcement of a package of measures aiming to boost equal opportunities in school sport, both inside and outside the classroom for boys and girls, which includes:
• the request for schools to provide a minimum of two hours of curriculum PE time
• expansion of the Schools Games Mark which rewards parity of provision for girls
• a funding commitment across the next two years of £600m for the PE and Sport Premium
• £57m for the opening school facilities programme
• a commitment to publish a refreshed School Sport Action Plan.

The conference also takes place in light of the recent Public Accounts Committee inquiry into grassroots sport, which found little impact on participation following the 2012 Olympics and a lack of progress on access and inequalities, recommending a more joined up and evaluative approach from both Sport England and the DCMS.

It is an opportunity to consider what is needed from current policy, strategy and funding to improve participation and activity rates as Government refreshes the School Sport Action Plan. Attendees will examine how funding can be better aligned to local needs, the priorities for inter-agency coordination, the role of schools in the development of a more joined up, holistic approach to provision.

Delegates will assess strategies for raising the standards of sport and PE provision in schools and what is needed from curricula, assessment and facilities to improve quality and accessibility, including how schools can be supported to implement a minimum of two hours curriculum PE time.

There will also be discussion on the landscape of pupil engagement, and trends following the pandemic, with further examination of the priorities for outreach in schools and the wider community, targeting parity of provision between girls and boys, hard to reach groups and tailoring engagement to fit local context and needs.

Overall, sessions in the agenda include discussion on:
• PE and sports provision in schools:
     ◦ improving curriculum integration - implementing appropriate assessment methods - ensuring quality and standards - implementing minimum curriculum time for PE
     ◦ how funding is used by schools - the role of the Primary PE and Sport Premium
     ◦ assessing provision and funding of sporting facilities
• enhancing pupil engagement: tackling barriers and making adjustments for children with SEND and vulnerable groups - priorities for reaching marginalised groups - parity of provision between girls and boys
• maximising health and wellbeing: driving long-term changes in behaviour and lifestyle - evaluating the relationship between PE and development - combatting childhood obesity
• post-16 education sport provision: assessing further education and training routes - pathways for progression into careers - harnessing opportunities for scholarship programmes.