The announcement from the Department for Education means that another £320m will be available for physical education and sport in primary schools for the 2022/23 academic year.

"We welcome confirmation of this funding for primary schools across England, it is urgently needed, and we know schools will be relieved to be able to confirm arrangements for September,” said Youth Sport Trust chief executive Ali Oliver.

“However, we hope this will be an interim announcement as long-term funding is desperately needed. We must reimagine PE and school sport so it is inclusive and relevant to all young people and contributes to improving health and education outcomes. 

Oliver said a generation of children are struggling to recover from the many consequences of COVID, increasing screen time and the wider impact of the digital age.

“We face a ‘new pandemic’ of children’s health and happiness, and this demands a long-term commitment to transform activity levels. Only last week it was reported child type 2 diabetes referrals in England and Wales have jumped 50 per cent amid an obesity crisis, and children mental health referrals are soaring.  

“We want to work with more parents, teachers, politicians, and public influencers to address what should be a matter of public concern. Unhappy and unhealthy children don’t learn, if children don’t learn we won’t have a society fit for the future.”