The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education said the programme would be funded through the Dormant Assets Scheme and structured around the same five categories as a new Enrichment Framework. The departments said Ofsted would consider a school's enrichment offer when assessing personal development, and that parents would be able to see local school offers through new school profiles.
The policy is not a compulsory national after-school club guarantee. The government said Every Child Can would support activities delivered through schools, community programmes, weekends and holiday provision. It also said further details on remaining funding, programme design and how organisations can apply would be published later.
Table: Enrichment framework categories and delivery questions
| Framework category | Examples named by government | Implementation question |
|---|---|---|
| Civic engagement | Debating societies and community activity | Whether schools have staff time and local partners to run provision |
| Arts and culture | Music groups, creative activities and drama | Whether access reaches pupils who cannot pay privately |
| Nature, outdoor and adventure | Outdoor activities and nature provision | Whether transport and safeguarding costs are funded |
| Life and future skills, including STEM | Engineering clubs and skills activities | Whether provision fits around curriculum and exam pressure |
| Sport and physical activities | Football clubs and school sport | Whether facilities and coaching capacity are available |
Source: UK government announcement, 13 June 2026.
The government's stated aim is to reduce unequal access. The announcement said ministers wanted to halve the participation gap and make enrichment a common entitlement rather than something limited to families able to pay. It cited a State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, saying respondents wanted safe spaces, trusted adults, better mental-health support and greater access to activities.