The government has announced a £132.5m funding package for after-school clubs as ministers prepare to introduce expected restrictions on social media use for under-16s.
The programme is designed to expand access to enrichment activities in schools, with funding for clubs ranging from music groups and debating societies to engineering and sports, in what ministers describe as an effort to give children alternatives to time spent online.
It comes before an expected announcement by Keir Starmer on measures to limit children’s access to social media, with the restrictions expected to be introduced in the coming days.
The prime minister is understood to be considering an Australian-style ban, alongside options such as curfews and limits on addictive design features. Technology secretary Liz Kendall previously said a ban is “on the table”.
Ministers say the funding will help schools provide structured after-school activities at a time when they are seeking to reduce pressure on young people’s mental health.
The Department for Education pointed to a survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that despite being the most digitally connected generation, many report high levels of loneliness.
Ofsted will also take a school’s enrichment offer into account when assessing personal development, the department said, in a move intended to place a greater weight on extracurricular provision.
Starmer is expected to bring forward online safety measures that would restrict under-16s from accessing “high-risk” social media platforms, with additional limits on features such as disappearing messages, live streaming and contact from adult strangers. A ban on romantic or sexual AI chatbots for under-18s is also expected.
A government consultation on children’s online safety, which closed in early June and received more than 116,000 responses, found that nine in 10 parents backed an under-16 social media ban. Officials said it was the second-largest consultation response in recent years.
But the pace of reform has raised questions about implementation, including potential legal challenges. Sources have suggested the government could face judicial review over how it distinguishes between platforms subject to tighter restrictions and those deemed lower risk.
The Conservatives have also called for stronger action, with leader Kemi Badenoch saying earlier this week: “Social media is for adults, it’s not for children.”
The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said the funding was aimed at ensuring that access to activities was not limited by background or income.
“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 the programme would help address inequalities in access to enrichment opportunities.
“A child who loves the arts shouldn’t have to be born into the right postcode to pursue it,” she said.
However, school leaders warned that while the government’s ambitions were welcome, delivery could be challenging. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools were already under financial and staffing pressure.
“Those pressures will not disappear simply because the government announces new policies,” he said. “It has to focus more on how to turn aspirations into realities.”
The government said it expects the programme to roll out alongside broader online safety measures, as ministers prepare to set out which platforms will be subject to restrictions.
