New funding means an Isle of Wight school will be able to open its sporting facilities outside school hours.

The Bay CE in Sandown is among the first schools to get dedicated government cash, which is being awarded until March 2025, across the Island and Hampshire.

Schools awarded the cash may choose to use the money to buy equipment, deliver new clubs, help employees gain qualifications, or to pay for people to run activities.

It means sport facilities could be used before or after school and during weekends, evenings, and school holidays.

The Bay CE is being given £7,095, to support weekly community football sessions for Reception and Year 1 children. 

The sessions will be a mix of structured games and free play, to develop social skills including teamwork, communication and perseverance as well as physical attributes including agility, balance, co-ordination and speed.

Parents and carers will be encouraged to join in, too.

The project also aims to provide more funded holiday places to families who receive free school meals and will enable the school to buy portable floodlights, so community groups can use the AstroTurf pitch for longer in winter.      

The Energise Me programme is funded by the Department for Education.

Sharon Robertson, head of children and young people at Energise Me, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to support schools in our priority areas to provide a more varied, targeted, and extensive extra-curricular offer.

"It will help address inequalities and provide positive early experiences for pupils who don’t currently take part."