46. The Government agrees with the Committee on the benefits of sport, physical education and enrichment, and their positive impact on pupil engagement and wellbeing. We know that attending school and engaging with learning is vital to pupils’ health and wellbeing. Being physically active is important for pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing and can contribute to positive behaviours, improved concentration and better attainment. Participation in sport and physical activity is also strongly linked to the development of character and resilience which in turn can contribute to improved attendance. 47. The Department welcomes the recommendation for further research and agrees that it is important to build the evidence base on how sport-based interventions can improve attendance. The Department will explore how it can commission research into the link between sport-based interventions and improved attendance, including looking to the third sector for examples of effective practice. 48. Building on the evidence generated from the Department for Education’s pilot attendance mentor programme and the Youth Endowment Fund’s ‘A Safe, Positive Place to Learn: Improving attendance and reducing exclusions’ funding round, the Department will continue to test the effect of different interventions on improving attendance and engagement.