After-school clubs funding boost unveiled ahead of expected social media ban

After-school clubs funding boost unveiled ahead of expected social media ban The money will help fund activities to keep children occupied and help them build new skills. This could include music groups, engineering clubs, debating societies and football clubs. After-school clubs have been boosted with a £132.5 million-backed programme ahead of an expected under-16s social media ban. The money will help fund activities to keep children occupied and help them build new skills. This could include music groups, engineering clubs, debating societies and football clubs. The Department for Education explained Ofsted will consider a school’s enrichment offer as part of how it assesses personal development. Ministers hope the funding boost will respond directly 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. It comes with the PM widely expected to introduce restrictions on children’s social media use in the coming days. A Government consultation on the issue, which closed on May 26, received around 120,000 responses, with 90% of parents responding to the consultation saying they would back one. Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said: “Every child should be able to enjoy sport and the creative arts, not just the lucky few. “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. “As the world around our children continues to move fast, investment is about making sure the childhood experiences we truly value can once again be for every young person, wherever they live.” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I have always been clear that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. “A child who loves the arts shouldn’t have to be born into the right postcode to pursue it, because we believe that Every Child Can excel in the creative arts. “By investing in these life-changing opportunities, we are supporting their futures and delivering a positive step forward to break down the barriers for children and young people to access creative opportunities that could in turn open up doors for their long-term careers.”