Every child achieving and thriving - DFE White Paper
If you teach in a school that follows the English national curriculum, you will not have been able to miss the increased importance placed on SEND and closing the disadvantage gap. On 23rd February 2026 the DfE released its ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ white paper which outlines the government's 10-year vision for reform in England.
At a high level, the white paper focuses on three major shifts:
- Narrow to broad: Moving away from a narrow academic focus towards a rich, broad curriculum that includes a universal "enrichment entitlement" for all children.
- Sidelined to included: Creating a truly inclusive mainstream education system where children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds (such as white working-class children) receive targeted, well-funded support to succeed.
- Withdrawn to engaging: Rebuilding the social contract between schools and families to improve pupil belonging, attendance and behaviour.
To achieve this, the government is committing to significant investments, including recruiting 6,500 more expert teachers, providing £1.6 billion for a new Inclusive Mainstream Fund and offering extensive new SEND training for all school staff.
Key Takeaways and Direct Quotes of most interest to PE Teachers
The white paper places a strong emphasis on health, enrichment and physical activity. Here is the specific content and direct quotes that are highly relevant to PE teachers:
(1) Strengthening the PE Curriculum and School Partnerships: The government plans to reinforce the importance of Physical Education within the core curriculum and heavily invest in school sport networks to promote health.
Quote: "We will strengthen the arts, music and physical education (PE), as set out in our response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review."
Quote: The government is "preparing to deliver enhanced PE and School Sport Partnerships. These new partnerships will support us in our ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever by expanding opportunities for children to access high-quality PE, sport and physical activity."
(2) Developing Life Skills Through Sport: The refreshed national curriculum will look to subjects like PE to help children build crucial socio-emotional skills for their wider lives and future careers.
Quote: The refreshed curriculum will prepare children for life by "identifying opportunities for children to practice social and emotional attributes such as teamwork in PE."
(3) A Minimum Entitlement to Extracurricular Sports: A major theme of the white paper is that enrichment should not just be for those who can afford it. The government is introducing an "Enrichment Framework" with benchmarks that schools will be expected to meet.
Quote: "At a minimum, every school should deliver an enrichment offer that provides access to civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and developing wider life skills."
(4) Increasing Inclusion and Funding for Under-represented Groups in Sport: The paper notes a significant gap in sports participation for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. Addressing this inequality is a major priority, backed by significant grassroots funding.
Quote: The white paper acknowledges that currently, "children with SEND are less likely to be involved in extracurricular sports and physical activities" to combat this, "over £400 million will be spent on new and upgraded grassroots community sport facilities across the UK, which promote health and wellbeing. This funding will have a particular focus on providing access to sport for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, young people with SEND and those living in disadvantaged areas."
