Funding for School Sport and Outdoor Learning
How are schools funded?
Most state-funded schools in England receive funding through two main funding pots which determines what the money can be spent on – revenue funding and capital funding. Schools can decide how they spend their revenue funding. It is used to pay for the day-to-day running costs of a school, such as teacher pay, support staff pay, energy bills, minor maintenance, and teaching materials. Capital funding is a separate pot of money used to pay for new school buildings and improvements to the school estate.
The government has also identified that school holidays can be difficult for some families, with children at risk of missing out on healthy meals, activities, and learning opportunities.The Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) has been supporting children and families in the school holidays since 2018.
Additional funding sources for School Sport and Outdoor Learning
Sports Premium funding - Advice from AfPE
The Primary PE and Sport Premium is government funding for English primary schools to enhance or create PE, sport, and physical activity opportunities. Schools must show how they use the funds to improve health, skills, and wider benefits like teamwork. The Association for Physical Education provides guidance to ensure sustainable impact. Since it’s inception, this funding has been used extensively to install school orienteering infrastructure and purchase compatible devices to be used with The Outdoor Classroom mobile app.
The CLA Charitable Trust provides grants to help disadvantaged or disabled people, including schoolchildren, access and learn about the countryside. Schools can benefit from this funding by organising outdoor education initiatives, field trips, or environmental projects that give students hands-on experience in rural settings. By applying for a grant, schools can enhance their curriculum, promote understanding of the environment, and broaden pupils’ experiences beyond the classroom.
The Ernest Cook Trust provides grants that focus on educational projects promoting environmental understanding and outdoor learning experiences for children and young people. Schools can benefit by applying for funding to develop or enhance nature-based lessons, outdoor activities, and other environmental initiatives. The grants support everything from new equipment and learning materials to collaborative community projects, helping schools enrich their curriculum, engage students with nature, and foster environmental awareness.
The Outdoor Classroom are working with The Ernest Cook Trust to provide schools in their Foundations For Outdoor Learning programme with access to our app and web portal, supporting digital outdoor learning for schools across the country.
Sport England Movement Fund
Sport England’s Movement Fund supports projects that help more people, including children and young people, become physically active. For schools, this means potential funding to expand sports offerings, enhance facilities, or introduce innovative programs—both during and outside of school hours. By applying, schools can improve pupils’ health, encourage regular exercise, and even involve their wider community in new or improved physical activities.