MP welcomes an additional £367,400 in funding for sport in local primary schools

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed an announcement by Education Minister Edward Timpson that primary schools in the South Lakes will get an additional £367,400 in funding to encourage and support school sports from September 2013.

In March this year the Prime Minister announced that there would be an additional £150 million of new funding for primary school PE and sport as part of the legacy of the incredibly successful London Olympic and Paralympics games.

The money will be ring fenced for sport funding only and will be given directly to primary school headteachers so they can decide how best to use the funding to support the provision of sport for their pupils. Every state funded school in the country with primary aged pupils will qualify for funding, which will be allocated fully in September.

The Department for Education has also asked Ofsted to take PE and sport provision into account when inspecting schools. From September changes to the inspection handbook will ensure that Ofsted inspectors consider "how well the school uses its sport funding to improve the quality and the breadth of its PE and sporting provision, including increasing participation in PE and sport so that all pupils develop healthy lifestyles and reach performance levels they are capable of."

Commenting on the announcement Tim said: "This is fantastic news for primary school children across the South Lakes. Last year's Olympics aimed to "inspire a generation" and by investing in primary schools and giving them the money to help young children to get involved in sports is the best way to do this.

"From September many young children across our area will have better access and greater encouragement to get into sports which will not only lead to the next Andy Murray or Jessica Ennis but will also help our children to lead healthier lifestyles."