A total of £700,000 will be used to launch a two-year pilot scheme in Jersey primary schools to expand access to sport for children from low-income families, if an amendment by a backbench politician is approved.
Deputy Lucy Stephenson has lodged an amendment to the Government’s Budget which would add a ring-fenced sport and physical education component to the existing Jersey Premium scheme throughout 2026 and 2027.
Her proposal would redirect £350,000 from the Cabinet Office to the Education Department in both years.
The scheme would use the same eligibility criteria and governing processes as the current Jersey Premium, with each primary school receiving £140 per eligible pupil.
Government primary schools would also gain a £5,000 base payment as part of the two-year pilot programme.
“This base funding enables schools to plan ahead knowing they will have at least a certain amount of money to spend on projects and ensures those with fewer eligible students can still make an impact,” explained Deputy Stephenson.
“Fee-paying, grant-aided and independent schools, which typically have fewer than five eligible pupils, would not receive the base funding payment but would receive payments per students.”
Deputy Stephenson explained that the goal is to open up new opportunities for children who currently face financial or logistical barriers to physical activity.
She said: “Today in Jersey around one-in-four children starting school are overweight or obese. That rises to around one in three by the time they finish primary school.
“Obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for a variety of long-term health conditions, and children who are overweight are more likely to go on to be obese adults.
“At the same time demand is increasing for mental-health and wellbeing support for young people, pressures of the online world are focusing minds about how best we can support our children to thrive, and the lessons of the pandemic continue to teach us about the importance of being active and social interactions.
“Sport and being physically active are widely accepted to be hugely beneficial to individuals and to society more generally; however, it is often difficult to quantify the true value.”
Deputy Stephenson added: “While it could legitimately be argued that we should be investing in encouraging all children and young people to be more physically active, at a time when government finances are constrained the evidence supports the case made by this amendment that prioritising support to those on the lowest incomes is a good place to start.”
She added that the amendment could also indirectly increase investment in local sports clubs, organisations and businesses which may be contracted by schools to provide activities using the funding.