Sports Premium 2025/26: Make Every Penny Count!

If you're unsure where to spend your PE and Sport Premium or what even qualifies, you've come to the right place!

2025/26 is the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium payments to schools, making it more important than ever to ensure every penny of your allocation is spent wisely. In this guide, we'll answer the most frequently asked questions about PE and Sport Premium funding, so you can make the most of this last opportunity before the funding model changes for good.

Whether you're a PE lead looking for fresh ideas or a headteacher planning your final round of investment, we've got you covered. Let's make it count!

What is Sport Premium Funding?

PE and Sport Premium funding (sometimes referred to as Sport Premium or PSG) is a government-backed funding scheme designed to help primary schools across England make sustainable, long-term improvements to the quality of physical education, physical activity and sport they provide.

First introduced in 2013 by the Department for Education, the Premium has been a vital source of ring-fenced funding for primary schools for over a decade, helping schools across England raise the bar for PE and sport.

However, 2025/26 marks the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium payments to schools. From 2026/27, the funding model will change significantly, transitioning to a new national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, so making the most of this year's allocation has never been more important.

It's worth noting that the current funding applies specifically to state-funded primary schools in England, so if you're based in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, your school's sports funding will follow a different structure.

One of the greatest strengths of the PE and Sport Premium has always been its flexibility. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, as every school can decide how best to invest their allocation based on the unique needs of their pupils and the priorities of their setting.

With this being the last year of direct funding, now is the perfect time to think carefully about how to spend it for maximum, lasting impact.

How Much Sports Premium Will My School Get?

For 2025/26, your school's allocation is calculated based on pupil numbers in Years 1 to 6:

• Schools with 16 or fewer pupils will receive £1,000 per pupil
• Schools with 17 or more pupils will receive £16,000 plus an additional £10 per pupil

Both payments have already been made this year, with 50% paid in Autumn 2025 and the remaining 50% in Spring 2026, so your full allocation should now be in place.

As always, check the government website to confirm your school's eligibility and exact allocation before making any spending decisions.

The Sports Premium Deadline

With the clock ticking on the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium funding, the 31st July 2026 deadline has never felt more significant. This is the date by which every penny of your 2025/26 allocation must be fully spent. There is no rollover and no exceptions, so if you haven't already mapped out your remaining budget, now is the time to act.

But spending your allocation is only half of the picture. Schools are also required to complete the DfE's mandatory digital expenditure reporting return by 5pm on 31st July 2026, and publish a full report on their school website by the same date.

This report must include the amount of funding received, a detailed breakdown of how it was spent, the impact on pupils' participation and attainment in PE and sport, and how any improvements will be sustained going forward.

With this being the last year of the Premium as we know it, getting your reporting right matters more than ever. It's your opportunity to demonstrate the lasting difference this funding has made for your pupils.

Is Sports Premium Funding Continuing?

The 2025/26 academic year is the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium payments to schools.

From 2026/27, the familiar ring-fenced grant that schools have relied on for over a decade will be replaced by a brand new national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, backed by £580 million. Rather than receiving direct funding to spend at their discretion, schools will instead access centrally commissioned support, resources and provision through this new model.

This is a fundamental shift in how PE and sport is funded in primary schools, and it means that the flexibility schools have enjoyed with the Premium will no longer exist in the same way. There will be no direct payments, no allocation to plan around, and no budget line to draw on for equipment, coaching or CPD.

That makes spending your 2025/26 allocation wisely more important than ever. This is your last opportunity to invest directly in the resources, equipment and experiences that will have a lasting impact on your pupils for years to come. Don't let a single penny go to waste!

Can You Carry Over Sports Premium Funding?

In short, no. Schools are not permitted to carry over any unspent PE and Sport Premium funding into the following academic year. Your full 2025/26 allocation must be spent by 31st July 2026, and any funding that remains unspent after that date will be lost entirely.

In previous years, the consequences of underspending were frustrating but manageable. This year, the stakes are considerably higher. With 2025/26 being the final year of direct payments to schools, there is no future allocation to fall back on and no new funding model that puts money directly in your hands. Any unspent budget simply disappears, along with the opportunity it represented for your pupils.

Schools are also required to publish a full breakdown of how their funding was spent on their school website by 31st July 2026, so transparency and accountability go hand in hand with spending wisely.

If you're looking at your remaining budget and wondering how to put it to the best possible use, our team at Pentagon Play is here to help. From high-quality outdoor equipment to active play installations that will benefit your pupils for years to come, we can help you make every penny count before the deadline.

The Main Goals of Sports Premium Funding

The PE and Sport Premium has always been about more than just buying new equipment. At its heart, the funding exists to drive real, lasting improvements to the quality of PE and sport your school provides, and with 2025/26 being the final year of direct payments, making sure your spending genuinely delivers against these goals has never mattered more.

The DfE sets out five key indicators that all spending must contribute to. Your funding should be working towards at least one of the following:

• Increased confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport
• Broader experience of a range of sports and activities offered to all pupils
• Increased engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity
• Increased participation in competitive sport
• Raising the profile of PE and sport across the school as a tool for whole-school improvement

Whilst there are no rigid rules about exactly how you achieve these goals, all spending must deliver additional and sustainable improvements. This means the focus should be on investments that build lasting capacity within your school, benefiting not just your current pupils but every child who walks through your doors in the years ahead.

This is particularly important to keep in mind as the funding model changes. The improvements you make this year need to stand on their own two feet without direct Premium funding to support them going forward.

What Can I Spend The Sports Premium On?

One of the great strengths of the PE and Sport Premium has always been its flexibility, and with the deadline fast approaching, now is the perfect time to think creatively about how to put your remaining budget to work. Here are some of the best ways schools can spend their funding this year:

• Outdoor Play and Sports Equipment: From trim trails and play frames to multi-use games areas and daily mile tracks, investing in high-quality outdoor equipment can transform your school grounds and get more pupils active every single day. With no direct funding arriving next year, durable and long-lasting equipment is one of the smartest investments you can make right now.
• Staff Training and CPD: Upskilling your staff is one of the most sustainable uses of your allocation. Whether that's specialist PE training, sports coaching qualifications or curriculum development, the skills your team develop this year will continue to benefit your pupils long after the funding is gone.
• Extracurricular Sport and Competitive Opportunities: After-school clubs, inter-school competitions, sports days and festivals all qualify. Giving pupils access to a broader range of sporting experiences is a brilliant way to boost engagement and raise the profile of PE across your whole school.
• Swimming and Water Safety: If your Year 6 pupils haven't yet met the national curriculum requirements for swimming, the Premium can fund lessons and water safety programmes. Schools are required to report on Year 6 swimming attainment as part of their annual return, so this is well worth prioritising.
• Playground Improvements and Active Spaces: Funding can be used to improve your outdoor environment to encourage more active play throughout the school day, including playground markings, landscaping, sensory play areas and outdoor classroom spaces that support active learning across the curriculum.

What Can't I Spend The Sports Premium On?

With the 31st July 2026 deadline approaching and no funding to follow in 2026/27, it's more important than ever to make sure every pound you spend qualifies. The DfE is clear that the following expenditure does not fall within the scope of additional or sustainable improvement, so steer clear of spending your allocation on:

• Capital expenditure: Large-scale capital projects are not permitted, except for goods or products that fall below your school's de minimis value — the threshold limit set for minor purchases.
• Employing coaches or staff to cover PPA time: Using the Premium to hire coaches or specialist teachers to cover planning, preparation and assessment arrangements is not allowed. This type of staffing cost should come out of your school's core budget.
• Staff salaries: The funding cannot be used to pay the salaries of existing teaching or support staff, even where their role involves PE or sport.
• Advance payments for future years: You cannot use your 2025/26 allocation to pay for subscriptions, invoices or services that extend into or are delivered in future academic years. With this being the final year of direct payments, this restriction is especially worth bearing in mind.
• Teaching the minimum requirements of the national curriculum: The Premium is designed to go above and beyond your existing PE provision, not fund what is already required. This includes core swimming lessons that form part of your standard curriculum delivery.
• Staff PE kits: Purchasing kit or uniforms for staff members falls outside the eligible spending criteria.

If you are ever unsure whether a purchase qualifies, always refer to the DfE's conditions of grant before committing your budget.

What is Capital Expenditure For Schools?

Capital expenditure refers to spending on significant fixed assets that are expected to provide lasting benefit over more than one year. This typically includes things like buildings, land, vehicles and large-scale infrastructure.

As a rule, PE and Sport Premium funding cannot be used for capital expenditure. However, it's important to understand exactly where the line is drawn, as it isn't always as straightforward as it might seem.

Whether a purchase counts as capital expenditure depends on your school's own de minimis threshold, which is the value below which items are charged to revenue rather than recognised as assets on your balance sheet.

There are three scenarios worth being aware of when making purchasing decisions:

• Individual assets: Any single item valued above your school's de minimis threshold will be treated as capital expenditure and therefore cannot be funded through the Premium.
• Grouped assets: If your school purchases several similar items at the same time and their combined value exceeds your de minimis threshold, this is also classified as capital expenditure, even if each individual item falls below the limit.
• Bulked assets: Similarly, a bulk purchase of equipment where individual items are each below the threshold but the overall cost exceeds it may also be treated as capital expenditure.

It's also worth noting that the DfE specifically states that a specially constructed Daily Mile course is not an appropriate use of PE and Sport Premium funding, as this would be considered a capital project.

If you're unsure whether a planned purchase crosses the capital expenditure threshold, we'd always recommend speaking with your school's finance lead or seeking professional accounting advice before committing your budget.

The Compulsory Digital Reporting Tool For Sports Premium

For 2025/26, all primary schools are required to complete the DfE's mandatory digital expenditure reporting return. This is not optional, and with the 31st July 2026 deadline fast approaching, now is the time to make sure your school is prepared.

The reporting window for 2025/26 will open in June 2026, and the return must be completed by 5pm on 31st July 2026. To access the form, your school will need an active DfE sign-in account, so if you haven't used DfE sign-in before, make sure you set this up well in advance to avoid any last-minute issues.

The digital return will capture the following information:

• The total amount of PE and Sport Premium funding your school received
• A full breakdown of how the funding has been spent
• Whether there is any unspent funding remaining
• The outcomes and impact of your spending across the five key indicators
• Swimming and water safety attainment data for your Year 6 cohort

Once submitted, schools can download a copy of their completed return and use this as the report they are required to publish on their school website by the same deadline, saving time on administration.

As this is the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium payments, this reporting return is your school's opportunity to demonstrate the lasting difference the funding has made for your pupils. Make sure your governing board has reviewed and signed off the return before submission, as their oversight is a requirement of the conditions of grant.

What Could You Get From Pentagon With The Sports Premium This Year? 

With the 31st July 2026 deadline fast approaching, now is the perfect time to put your remaining PE and Sport Premium to work, and Pentagon Play is here to help you make the most of every penny.

All of our freestanding products sit below the capital expenditure threshold, making them fully eligible for Sport Premium spending. Better still, they are built to last, meaning the investment you make this year will continue to benefit your pupils long after the funding model changes.

Our Get Set, Go! Blocks range is a fantastic option for schools looking to boost physical activity across their Early Years and KS1 provision.

>Designed to develop gross motor skills, coordination, spatial awareness and physical strength, these versatile blocks can be configured in countless ways to keep children engaged and active.

>With delivery in as little as 2 to 4 weeks and invoicing within that timeframe, they are ideal if you are working against the clock to spend your allocation.

Our Rockies and Up and Under & Play Bridges range offer children exciting opportunities to climb, crawl, balance and explore, helping to develop physical confidence and gross motor skills in a fun and engaging way. These freestanding pieces are perfect for encouraging active play throughout the school day, not just during PE lessons.

For schools looking to inspire creativity and active learning further up the school, our Play Builder sets are a brilliant choice. Combining construction play with physical activity, the Play Builder range encourages problem solving, muscle development and coordination, all while keeping children on the move.

Or, if you're looking for an absolute bargain, then make sure you check out our Sports Premium Packages! Each package contains a wonderful combination of our Get Set, Go! Blocks, Play Builder sets and other freestanding equipment, for a great price. 

Browse the full range on our online shop and get in touch with our friendly team today. With the deadline around the corner, we are ready to help you spend wisely and make a lasting impact for your pupils!

Is there anyone you can talk to about how to spend your Sports Premium?

Absolutely! With the final deadline for PE and Sport Premium spending fast approaching, we know that many schools are feeling the pressure to make the right decisions quickly. That's where our team of Learning Advisors comes in.

Our Learning Advisors have supported thousands of primary school headteachers and PE leads with their Sport Premium budgets, and they understand the challenges and priorities that schools are facing this year better than anyone.

Whether you have a clear idea of what you need or you're not sure where to start, they will take the time to understand your school's unique needs and help you find the right solution for your pupils, both now and for years to come.

With this being the final year of direct PE and Sport Premium payments, getting your spending right has never mattered more. Our team is here to make sure every penny of your allocation goes towards something that will make a genuine, lasting difference to the children in your school.

Get in touch with us today and let's make the most of your funding together!