The government announced £265m of funding last July to pilot free extracurricular activities in 18 local authorities for children whose families cannot afford to pay for them.
But an interim report published last week showed that, despite an increase in take-up of activities, 77 per cent of schools are struggling with the workload created by administrating the subsidy, and require more guidance. Schools have been dealing with the workload by staff working longer hours or reassigning work.
John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "The subsidy is welcome but there is an issue of whether there are enough people to administer it. Previous research has shown school staff do not have time to do it properly."
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