WHEN the Government saved £162m-a-year by scrapping School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) three years ago, the move was greeted by fierce criticism.

Critics justifiably asked how such a decision could fit with the pledge to ensure a legacy from the approaching London Olympics.

Today it has been announced that every primary school is to receive an annual grant of about £10,000 to revive sports coaching, with the Prime Minister proudly declaring: “With this new approach to sport, we can create a culture in our schools that encourages all children to be active and enjoy sport, and helps foster the aspirations of future Olympians and Paralympians.”

That is all very well and, of course, I welcome the £150m investment in school sport because, as a governor of the Future Sport charity, I passionately believe in growing talent from the grass roots.

Sport not only plays a huge part in tackling unacceptable levels of obesity among youngsters, but it is a powerful diversion from anti-social behaviour.

Invest in community sport, protect school playing fields, and there is no doubt that public health will improve and crime will go down.

It is, however, hard to avoid the conclusion that the dismantling of the School Sports Partnerships in 2010 was another example of the Government not thinking through the consequences of its decisions.

It appears to be a case of moving the goalposts and replacing the SSPs with a scheme that has the same objectives.

The sadness is that ground has been lost during three years in which primary school children have not enjoyed the same focus on sport.