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The government has unveiled a package of measures intended to ensure that all children and young people have access to enrichment activities designed to build confidence, skills and social connections, alongside a new £132.5 million programme aimed at reducing inequalities in access to opportunities outside the classroom.
The initiative, known as "Every Child Can", will be funded through the Dormant Assets Scheme and will support activities delivered through schools, community organisations, weekend provision and holiday programmes. Ministers said the programme is intended to make participation in enrichment activities a universal entitlement rather than an opportunity determined by geography or family income.
Alongside the funding announcement, the government has published a new Enrichment Framework setting out benchmarks for schools and colleges. The framework is designed to help education providers develop and assess their enrichment offer across five areas: civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure activities; life and future skills, including STEM subjects; and sport and physical activity.
Examples of activities that could be supported include sports clubs, music groups, engineering projects, debating societies and volunteering opportunities. The government said the benchmarks would provide schools and colleges with practical guidance while allowing flexibility to respond to local needs and pupil interests.
The reforms are intended to address concerns about social isolation among young people. The government cited findings from its State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that despite growing up in an increasingly connected digital environment, many experience significant levels of loneliness and isolation. Respondents highlighted the importance of trusted adults, safe spaces, improved mental health support and greater access to activities outside formal education.
As part of the changes, Ofsted will take account of a school's enrichment offer when assessing personal development. Information about enrichment opportunities will also be included within new school profiles intended to provide parents with greater visibility of what individual schools offer beyond the classroom.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that participation in sport, creative activities, outdoor pursuits and community involvement helps young people develop confidence, ambition and a sense of possibility. She said the investment was intended to ensure that opportunities traditionally available only to some children could become accessible to all.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the measures as part of a wider effort to rebuild opportunities for young people and address longstanding inequalities in access to arts, culture and youth provision. She said the government wanted every child to have access to meaningful activities, supportive adults and opportunities to develop their interests and talents.
The government said the programme forms part of a broader package of reforms aimed at supporting children and young people. These include a 10-year National Youth Strategy backed by more than £500 million, investment of over £1 billion in school sport during the next three years, additional funding for grassroots sports facilities, and investment in cultural institutions including public libraries.
The announcement also builds on plans to expand enrichment opportunities in schools serving disadvantaged communities. Four hundred schools in some of England's most deprived areas will be invited to participate in a £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme designed to help them meet the new framework benchmarks.
Research cited by the government suggests participation in enrichment activities is associated with improved educational attainment, stronger school engagement and better wellbeing outcomes. Evidence from the Education Policy Institute indicates that participation in sports clubs is linked to higher rates of education and employment in early adulthood, while involvement in arts, music and hobby-based activities is associated with increased progression to higher education.
Further details of the Every Child Can programme, including eligibility criteria and application processes, are expected to be published following ongoing work between the government and the National Lottery Community Fund. The Department for Education said it will work with schools, colleges and sector organisations to monitor implementation of the framework and assess its impact on attendance, engagement, wellbeing and educational achievement.
