Introduction
Application Process / How to claim your funding
Opening school facilities outside of the normal school day to school and community users, to create sustainable change in physical activity levels.
Aim of programme
Opening Schools Facilities (OSF) is a funding programme to meet the goals of the Government’s School Sport and Activity Action Plan (SSAAP). The aim is to help schools to open their existing sport facilities, including school swimming pools, for a broader range of young people and to support the wider community by partnering with sporting organisations, who can help deliver activities in these settings.
Programme objectives
To support schools to open their facilities outside of the normal school day (evenings, weekends, and holidays) to allow children & young people and the wider community to access more opportunities to be physically active.
To open school swimming pools focusing on swimming and water safety lessons both during and outside the school day for pupils at their school and for pupils at other local schools.
Participants are provided with a range of stimulating and enjoyable opportunities to take part in physical activity and sport, in addition to that experienced within PE lessons and extra-curricular activities. This means NEW and additional extra-curricular activities are eligible.
Participants are signposted to take part in the same or similar activities in their local community, following the end of their participation in the programme.
Q&A Sessions
In order to keep in touch with schools who are part of the programme, as well as potential new schools, we will host monthly Q&A online sessions on a Wednesday 3.30pm-4.30pm throughout the 2023/2024 academic year. This will allow schools to drop in and ask any questions related to the Opening School Facilities programmes across your school or for more information regarding the funding. Dates for these sessions are as follows:
- 20 September
- 18 October
- 22 November
- 13 December- This is for all schools currently part of the Opening School Facilities programme to attend as a virtual briefing
- 17 January
- 14 February
- 20 March
- More dates for the rest of the academic year (and in to OSF Year 3) will be added nearer the time.
- To access these meetings please click here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8603513412
Further information and support
Sport England – Use Our School
Use Our School is a free resource that supports schools to open their facilities to the community during evenings, weekends and holiday periods. This resource includes information templates and case studies.
Schools should work in the first instance with their district OSF co-ordinator (where applicable) to support their application. If you don’t know who this is, you can also contact us at openingschoolfacilities@yorkshiresport.org and we can ensure you receive the support you need.