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The PE & Sport Premium is being replaced by the PE & Sport Partnership Network — a new national quality framework and portal. Here's what schools need to know about funding, timelines, and what to do right now.

St. Kentigern’s RC Primary School achieved 97% PE attainment and 89.1% SEND attainment in PE over a two-year partnership with FIFTH Movement — Greater Manchester’s award-winning specialist PE provider serving Manchester, Tameside, Stockport, Salford, Trafford, Oldham, Bolton and beyond.

Arden Primary School in Bredbury, Stockport tripled its swimming results in just 3 weeks with FIFTH Movement’s Swim:ED pop-up pool programme — on-site, daily, no lost learning time. Serving primary schools across Stockport, Tameside and Cheshire East.

Swimming is statutory.   By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are expected to swim 25 metres, understand water safety, and […]

Over the past few months, national conversations around the future of the PE & Sport Premium have created understandable concern for school […]

FIFTH Movement and Swim:ED acknowledges the statement from Swim England, the Swimming Teachers Association and Swim Wales regarding pop-up swimming pools.   […]

At FIFTH Movement, our mission is to build lifelong healthy habits in children through excellent physical education, on-site swimming, engaging after-school clubs, […]

Swim:ED’s groundbreaking ‘pop-up’ pool programme is reinventing school water safety education, raising 25-metre success rates by 157% in the past 12 months.  […]

Over 80 percent of children say physical education helps them feel more confident in and out of school. Physical education is not […]

When PE stops, so does progress. Every school leader knows the stress of juggling PPA cover. It’s a critical part of the […]

Introduction Every teacher needs guaranteed PPA time - but what happens on the playground (or school hall) while staff are away planning? For many schools, PE becomes the “go-to” solution for PPA cover. Yet this often brings new challenges: staff feeling under-confident in who is covering their PE lesson, lessons being reduced to “games to fill time,” or children missing out on the safe, structured physical education they deserve. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right approach, PPA cover can be an opportunity to deliver outstanding PE that inspires pupils and supports school improvement. Why PE Matters More Than Ever PE isn’t just about burning energy in the hall. Done well, it builds: Resilience and confidence Teamwork and cooperation Focus and behaviour back in the classroom Healthy habits for life The Association for Physical Education (afPE) has made it clear: every child is entitled to at least two hours of high-quality PE each week. It’s a non-negotiable. But the reality is, with crowded timetables and teachers juggling many responsibilities, schools often struggle to meet that standard. PE ends up squeezed, undervalued, or inconsistently delivered. The PPA Planning Problem PE is a specialist subject. It requires careful planning, subject knowledge, and an understanding of progression and inclusion. But for many primary school teachers, this is daunting. The result? Hours lost planning PE cover lessons Repetitive or uninspiring activities Anxiety around safety and behaviour management This is not the teacher’s fault. Time is short. Confidence in delivering all areas of the curriculum is limited. And without support, it’s hard to make PE truly outstanding. What Outstanding PE Looks Like So what should an outstanding PE lesson look like? According to afPE and Ofsted, it includes: High expectations of all pupils Clear learning progress and assessment Engaged, inspired children making rapid progress Lessons that are safe, inclusive, and purposeful In other words, PPA PE should never be “just cover.” It’s a curriculum subject in its own right - one that can transform children’s physical, social, and emotional development. Check out our ‘What is an Outstanding PE Lesson?’ resource here [Download CTA] The Solution: Safe, Fun, Outstanding PE During PPA That’s where [insert company name] PPA Cover service comes in. We provide schools with: Specialist PE coaches who are qualified, DBS-checked, and safeguarding-trained Structured, progressive lessons aligned with your school’s curriculum Consistency every week, so children learn, progress, and thrive Peace of mind for teachers, who can take their PPA time knowing lessons are safe and purposeful Instead of scrambling to plan PPA cover lessons, your staff can focus on what they do best — while pupils enjoy PE that’s genuinely outstanding. The Impact on Schools Schools using [insert company name] PPA Cover tell us: “Pupils are more engaged in PE and look forward to lessons” “Teachers feel less stressed, knowing planning and safety are taken care of” “Behaviour improves both in the hall and back in the classroom” “Schools feel confident they’re meeting afPE’s 2-hour entitlement” [insert your own testimonials above] In short, PPA cover becomes a strength - not a headache. Conclusion PPA time is essential, but it should never come at the cost of children’s learning. With the right partner, schools can transform “cover lessons” into opportunities for outstanding PE. Let’s move beyond “filling time” and give pupils the safe, structured, and inspiring physical education they deserve - while giving teachers the breathing space they need. 👉 Download your free resource: [What is an Outstanding PE Lesson?]