Making the Most of Your Sports Premium Funding Before the March Deadline

With the end of the financial year approaching, many primary schools are reviewing how they have allocated their Sports Premium funding, and whether there is still time to invest in sustainable improvements before the March deadline.

The Primary PE and Sports Premium (Sports Premium) is designed to improve the quality of PE, physical activity and sport in primary schools. Crucially, funding should be used to make additional and sustainable improvements that will benefit pupils both now and in the future.

If your school still has Sports Premium funding to allocate, now is the ideal time to consider projects that will deliver long-term impact, support your reporting requirements, and enhance physical activity across the whole school day.

Understanding the Purpose of Sports Premium

The government’s guidance makes it clear that Sports Premium funding should:

• Increase confidence, knowledge and skills of staff in teaching PE and sport

• Increase engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity, particularly the least active

• Raise the profile of PE and sport across the school

• Increase participation in competitive sport

• Ensure sustainable improvements that will benefit pupils for years to come

When reviewing your remaining Sports Premium budget, it’s important to ask:

Will this investment create lasting change?

Short-term interventions may have value, but capital improvements that embed physical activity into everyday school life can provide measurable impact well beyond a single funding year.

Creating Sustainable Impact with Playground and Sports Markings

One effective and fully compliant way to utilise Sports Premium funding is through high-quality thermoplastic playground and sports markings.

Thermoplastic markings transform underused outdoor spaces into vibrant, structured activity zones that encourage movement during break times, lunchtimes and structured PE sessions. Because they are long-lasting, anti-slip and highly durable, they represent a sustainable investment aligned with Sports Premium objectives.

Well-designed playground markings can help schools:

• Engage less active pupils through inclusive games and activity trails

• Support Active Mile or Daily Mile initiatives

• Embed physical activity into the school day beyond timetabled PE

• Introduce new sports and develop competitive opportunities

• Improve pupil wellbeing and concentration through increased movement

Unlike short-term equipment purchases, thermoplastic markings provide daily opportunities for activity without requiring additional staffing or ongoing expenditure. This makes them particularly attractive when demonstrating sustainable impact in your Sports Premium report.

Increasing Participation and Supporting the Least Active

A key focus of Sports Premium guidance is increasing engagement among pupils who are less active.

Structured playground zones, such as agility circuits, fitness trails, target games and small-sided sports courts, create accessible entry points for children who may feel less confident in traditional team sports. Clearly marked activities reduce barriers to participation and encourage independent active play.

By offering a variety of movement-based games, schools can provide targeted opportunities that support physical literacy development and help build confidence in fundamental movement skills.

When evaluating Sports Premium spending, inspectors and stakeholders will look for evidence that funding is reaching all pupils, not just those already engaged in sport. Playground markings can play a significant role in widening participation.

Raising the Profile of PE and Physical Activity

Sports Premium funding also aims to raise the profile of PE and sport across the whole school.

Investing in high-impact playground designs visibly demonstrates your commitment to physical activity. Branded sports courts, athletics tracks, fitness zones and skill-development markings create an environment where movement is celebrated and encouraged daily.

Outdoor spaces become extensions of the PE curriculum, supporting skill reinforcement during free play and structured lessons alike.

Meeting Reporting and Accountability Requirements

Schools are required to publish details of how they use their Sports Premium funding and demonstrate the impact of their spending.

When allocating funding before the March deadline, it is important to ensure that projects:

• Clearly align with Sports Premium priorities

• Deliver measurable outcomes

• Provide value for money

• Offer sustainability beyond the current funding year

Durable surface markings meet these criteria by offering multi-year benefits without ongoing costs. They support both curricular and extracurricular activity and contribute to whole-school physical activity strategies.

Don’t Leave Sports Premium Unallocated

As the end of March approaches, unspent Sports Premium funding risks being lost or reducing the opportunity to maximise its impact for this academic year.

Planning and implementing a sustainable playground improvement now ensures your funding is working hard for current pupils — and for those joining your school in years to come.

Whether you are looking to develop activity circuits, introduce new sports courts, enhance competitive opportunities or strengthen your Active Mile provision, investing in long-lasting playground infrastructure can help you meet Sports Premium objectives while creating a lasting legacy of active, healthy pupils.

If your school still has Sports Premium funding to allocate before the deadline, now is the time to act and secure improvements that will deliver meaningful, measurable and sustainable impact.

For support in planning a Sports Premium project that aligns with current guidance and maximises long-term value, get in touch with our team today.