Introduction

Welcome to the May addition of the Lead Inclusion School newsletter. We hope you have all settled into this term smoothly. This month’s newsletter will provide you with actions, updates, opportunities, and publications.

As always, if you have any social media post, successes, and events you would like us to share, please send them to Roshni ([email protected]).

ACTIONS

Lead Schools Virtual Networking Event – 15 June 2022

As mentioned in the last lead school newsletter, we have our lead schools networking event on Wednesday 15 June 2022. There will be a lunchtime session which will be a CPD session from an external speaker from 12:30-1:15pm. This will be followed by a specific inclusion session from 3:30-5pm. To register onto the event and find out more, please click here.

We will be providing a breakdown of the agenda in the weeks leading up to the event and we look forward to connecting with you all again virtually.

UPDATES

New Inclusion 2024 hub to improve future PE experiences

We are excited to announce that the new Inclusion 2024 inclusive education hub has launched today. Education practitioners across England will have access to all the essential resources for inclusive PE in one space. It is created in partnership with Activity Alliance, Youth Sport Trust, and the Department for Education. The ambition is to support more teachers responsible for PE and school sport with engaging more disabled students. The impact will mean more young people have accessible, inspiring, and meaningful experiences that can last a lifetime.

The new online hub is a result of collaboration with schools, expert practitioners, and local and national partners. It is built based on the growing concern that many disabled children continue to miss out on, or have negative experiences in PE or school sport. It would be fantastic if you could help us promote this exciting new resource through your networks. We will give you an orientation of the new hub at our Lead Inclusion School networking session on Wednesday 15 June 2022.

National School Sport Week: 20-26 June 2022

For National School Sport Week 2022, we’re campaigning to ensure there is a place for every young person to belong in school sport. Join us in our mission to guarantee there is a role for every young person in a school sports day this summer.

Our theme for 2022: Belonging – a place in sport for every child. School sport should be an important part of every child’s education and development - every child should feel they have a place to belong. But for too many children this isn’t happening; they are left feeling alienated by sport, that it isn’t for them and they don’t have a place within it. After the huge disruption of the past two years, the inequalities in young people’s health and activity levels have gotten worse. There is so much that all young people can gain from school sport – connecting with others, developing important life skills and improving both their physical and mental health.

Join us this National School Sport Week in our drive to make sure that, when it comes to school sport, there is a place for every child.

You can find out more and register here.

Our asks to the network:

• If your school have events planned during that week, please let Theo ([email protected]) know - we would love to come along to some of them.
• Share all the amazing activities you may planned for the week with your local MPs to celebrate your lead inclusion school, and encourage them in advance to come along. If you would like a draft template, please contact Roshni. We look forward to hearing about the engagement you will be having within your counties.

Supporting your students from Ukraine

It is anticipated that over 100,000 Ukrainian children will be attending schools in the UK over the coming months. As children from Ukraine start to join your school, they may well have experienced trauma from leaving home behind, and the journey that followed.

Any pupil joining a school or class other than at the start of a key stage has a challenging transition facing them. In many ways, the task faced by schools is the same with regard to all new children. Teachers have a critical role to play in helping develop a child’s sense of place and belonging; opening the minds and hearts of children. The goal is to make them feel welcome, encourage friendships, and both identify and provide the right support where needed.

This guide has been created to support you with additional information around sport in order to talk about, involve pupils, and experience new shared sport experiences together.

PUBLICATIONS

IPE M&E Executive Report 2021

This report is an overall summary of the progress and impact of IPE training over the last nine years of delivery. To read in findings, please follow this link.

Youth Voice Research

Although this paper is very academic, pages 9-13 contain insight from young people which is fascinating, as are the findings and recommendations that then follow near the end of the paper. Section 3.4 where it discusses influencing factors on CYP activity is also of interest.

OPPORTUNITIES

Run with Rich; Holme Pierrepont Country Park

Mass participation 1mile & 5k running event for everyone on Saturday 25 June 2022. Run Your Way with Richard Whitehead, Paralympic Medallist & Marathon Champ.

Take part in this friendly and inclusive fun run to raise funds to help disabled people believe and achieve a life without limits.

The new charity event is aimed at everyone, regardless of impairment, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender. You are welcome to run your way and to take part in this event to achieve your personal goal.

The event is a fundraising event for The Richard Whitehead Foundation, enabling projects across England and Wales to support individual disabled people to break down barriers and achieve their life goals through sport and movement.

More information and registration links can be found here.

Doncaster Athletics Club host inclusive athletics day for people with physical impairments

Doncaster Athletics Club is hosting a ‘Have a Go Athletics Day’ on Saturday 21 May at 10am-2pm. This free event will take place at 98 Stadium Way, Doncaster, DN4 5JB. 

The event is open to all people with physical impairments and is being held in partnership with CP Sport, LimbPower, Dwarf Sports Association UK and WheelPower. The day will include events such as Frame Running, throws, jumps, and other track events. Frame Running is an adapted sport for people who cannot functionally run and rely on sports aids for mobility and balance.

Taster days like these are not only a chance to try out a wide range of activities and meet coaches from local clubs, but also to socialise and have fun. At a recent taster day in Sheffield, children and adults enjoyed a similar range of activities. A video of that day can be found here.

All ages and abilities are welcome to attend the event in Doncaster. Equipment will be provided and experienced coaches will be on hand to guide participants through the various activities on offer.  

There is no cost to the event, but participants should register in advance by Sunday 15 May.

For more information about this event, please contact Claire Lavers ([email protected]).