On Saturday 13 June, the government announced 'Every Child Can' programme with 132.5 million funding for its implementation. The Department for Education (DfE) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) say
'The programme aims for every child, regardless of where they grow up or which school they attend, will benefit from enriching activities that build the skills, confidence and relationships they need for life and work.
'Greater access to opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts will be made available to children both in and out of school in order to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people.'
The announcement notes that Ofsted will be tasked with considering a school’s enrichment offer as part of how it assesses personal development, and parents will be able to see information on a school’s offering.
The government note that this is in response to the State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that despite being the most digitally connected generation, young people today face some of the highest levels of isolation globally.
The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:
Every child should be able to enjoy sport and the creative arts, not just the lucky few,” she said. “Whether it’s performing on stage, playing sport, exploring nature or getting involved in their community, these experiences build confidence, spark ambition and help young people discover what they are capable of.”
The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said:
Every child deserves the chance to find their spark through great art, sport, music, dance or drama, because arts and culture belong to all of us - not just a privileged few. A child who loves the arts shouldn’t have to be born into the right postcode to pursue it.'
The Government's Social media ban and a vision for more 'real-world' experience
News of the Every Child Can programme was followed on Monday 25 June, by Sir Keir Starmer's announcement that there would be a Spring 2027 social-media ban for under 16-year olds. Starmer made the important point that the space created by hours of scrolling needed to be filled with experiences, cultural experience.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:
The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children.'
In the announcement Starmer detailed a shift away from 'endless scrolling' to give children 'their childhood back' and rather than just taking things away, this policy must go hand-in-hand with opening up real-world opportunities.
Yesterday, the government set out further steps to make sure children in every part of the country get greater access to enrichment opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts both in and out of school.
Michele Gregson, CEP and general secretary said:
For too long enrichment activities have been narrowing, with access dependent on ability to pay. Every child deserves to live a rich cultural life, with opportunities to explore and discover their potential both within and beyond the curriculum. The announcement today of the 'Every Child Can' programme is a boost for children and young people, making a strong statement of entitlement to cultural enrichment for all. We all have a responsibility to support our children to be part of a vibrant cultural life, to feed their imaginations and allow them to connect with others through real world, hands on experiences.'