Latest Government advice on Physical Activity in Schools – from 8th March

Physical activity in schools
You have the flexibility to decide how physical education, sport and physical activity
will be provided while following the measures in your system of controls.

Pupils should be kept in consistent groups, sports equipment thoroughly cleaned
between each use by different individual groups.

You can hold PE lessons indoors, including those that involve activities related to
team sports, for example practising specific techniques, within your own system of
controls.

For sport provision, outdoor sports should be prioritised where possible, and large
indoor spaces used where it is not, maximising natural ventilation flows (through
opening windows and doors or using air conditioning systems wherever possible),
distancing between pupils, and paying scrupulous attention to cleaning and hygiene.
This is particularly important in a sport setting because of the way in which people
breathe during exercise. External facilities can also be used in line with government
guidance for the use of, and travel to and from, those facilities.

Where you are considering team sports you should only consider those sports
whose national governing bodies have developed guidance under the principles of
the government’s guidance on team sport and been approved by the government i.e.
sports on the list available at grassroots sports guidance for safe provision including
team sport, contact combat sport and organised sport events. Competition between
different schools should not take place until wider grassroots sport for under 18s is
permitted.

Refer to:
• guidance on grassroot sports for public and sport providers, safe
provision and facilities, and guidance from Sport England
• advice from organisations such as the Association for Physical Education and
the Youth Sport Trust
• guidance from Swim England on school swimming and water safety lessons
available at returning to pools guidance documents
• using changing rooms safely

You can work with external coaches, clubs and organisations for curricular and
extra-curricular activities. You must be satisfied that it is safe to do.
Activities such as active miles, making break times and lessons active and
encouraging active travel can help pupils to be physically active while encouraging
physical distancing.

See page 58 of the document.

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