UPDATES

Inclusion 2024 extension

Inclusion 2024 is extending! We are thrilled to share that we will be continuing our efforts into 2025. This extension is a testament to the impact of our work and the dedication of the Lead Inclusion School network. We will be sending out more detailed information about Inclusion 24/25 including the sign-up process will be with you ahead of the May half term, this will include how you can (and we very much hope you do) continue to be involved as Lead Inclusion Schools in this element of the offer. I have no doubt that this next phase will be even more impactful, thanks to your ongoing support and feedback.

This extension of Inclusion 2024 is an evolution to what we have been doing in the past three years, and as you’ll see from the four objectives below, we have been really explicit as to who we want to support and the impact and effect we want to evidence. Your feedback from the field has been critical to what we have included so hopefully you’ll see a fit for purpose delivery plan for the current education environment.

1. To improve the quality of schools’ PE and school sport provision for SEND pupils working with PE leads, teachers, SENDCos and teaching assistants.
2. In line with the CMO Guidelines, to improve and increase opportunities for pupils with SEND to achieve a minimum of 20 active minutes within the school day, inclusive of strength and balance activities.
3. To improve and increase the engagement and participation of pupils with SEND in PE and school sport, with a focus on extending positive impacts to broader school engagement. This will include attendance and behaviour.
4. To improve and increase the Character education, such as resilience, leadership and self-belief, of pupils with SEND through PE and school sport, demonstrating the correlation between attendance, belonging and behaviour.

Networking day – save the date
The next in person Lead Inclusion school networking day will be taking place on Monday 23 September in Birmingham. Please hold this date in your diaries.

Inclusion Live 2025 – save the date
Please hold the week commencing 27 January 2025 for Inclusion Live. Like previous years we anticipate sessions will take place over lunchtimes or after school.

SPOTLIGHT

Faye's SEND and MATP Training in the Wilson Stuart SGO Area

In preparation for the 2023/24 academic year, a city meeting identified SEND pupils as a key focus. As Lead Inclusion School, the initiative aimed to provide training for School Games Organisers (SGOs) on various areas of SEND, fostering confidence and competence in interacting with learners with additional needs. The goal was to upskill SGOs on areas of disability, increase confidence in interacting with learners with additional needs, and facilitate engagement with special schools. The initiative aimed to support the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership and advocate the value of School Games for improving experiences for young people and families. The training sessions covered engaging with special schools, Makaton signs, autism awareness, and understanding PMLD learners, including observing MATP sessions. SGOs were tasked with contacting special schools in their area and offering support, including introducing MATP.

Read full case study here

UPCOMING EVENTS

SEND Shooting Stars Training
Our final virtual SEND Shooting Stars training session for the academic year will be taking place on Wednesday 14 May, 15:30-17:30. Please share this booking link with your networks and do follow up to see if clubs have been set up after the training so you can input the information in the summer termly reporting.

Just a reminder that the KPI for this year is for each Lead Inclusion School to support two SEND Shooting Stars Clubs in your area.

SGO National Summit
The School Games National Summit 2024 will take place at the Telford International Centre on Wednesday 12 June.

This year, the Summit will maintain its focus on our three key pledges: Tackling Inequalities, embedding Youth Engagement and ensuring Physical Literacy. The morning will involve sharing of best practice examples, highlighting innovative solutions and lessons learned from across School Games, including an NGB/NDSO Jamboree which brings to life how competition and events can be used to address the needs of young people. The afternoon will feature a range of sessions that demonstrate approaches to address the pledges and develop the skills and expertise through which to do so.

We think it will be a valuable space for Lead Inclusion School representatives as well, so each Lead Inclusion School is being offered one free place. Please note, if you have already booked on as an SGO you cannot book another free place.

To register, please follow this booking link and select the ticket for the Lead inclusion school. If you are an SGO, please book on as an SGO.

Register for the summit

If you have any issues booking on, please contact [email protected].

SECTOR NEWS

Super Movers for Every Body

With the 2024 Paralympic Games being held in Paris later this summer, it’s the perfect time to build excitement in schools - let’s celebrate diversity and inclusion in sport!

BBC Education has teamed up with the Premier League and ParalympicsGB to launch an exciting new initiative, Super Movers for Every Body, to help bring inclusive sport and physical activity to primary schools across the UK. They want all children to enjoy being active, and want to reach, develop and support confident young disabled people and allies.

Super Movers for Every Body offers your class and school the exciting opportunity to enjoy the Paralympic sports blind football, boccia and para athletics (guided running, javelin and shot put). BBC Teach will be home to a series of fantastic free films and fun online learning resources including downloadable activity cards. These have been co-created with the help of Activity Alliance, BBC Sport, Boccia England, Channel 4 and the Youth Sport Trust. The new resources will give pupils the lowdown on the equipment, rules, and tactics for each sport.

You can also apply for one of over 3,000 free inclusive sport equipment packs, funded by the Premier League, by visiting Super Movers for Every Body here. Hurry... the closing date to apply is Friday 7 June 2024 (please share with your schools).

ALLFIE report

The Alliance for Inclusive Education have conducted a research project surrounding the lived experiences of Black / Global Majority Disabled pupils and their parents in relation to their school experiences. Although this research highlights the inadequacy of support available to these pupils and their families, it also provides key recommendations, based off the feedback from young people, to improve inclusivity in their school sport experience. This includes revising the opportunities offered to young people to focus on choice and control at the heart of provision, and creating an environment which involves pupils in future policies and rule changes.

You can read the full report here 

Activity Alliance Manifesto

There are 16 million disabled people in the UK. Yet, disabled people face many barriers that can make it more challenging to access and take part in meaningful sport and physical activity. With disabled people twice as likely to be inactive as their non-disabled peers, the Activity Alliance manifesto for change highlights ways to close that fairness gap. Released last month, the manifesto brings together insight from participants, advocates and organisations in the sport, physical activity and voluntary sector.

Read the manifesto here

Help with sports equipment for disabled children and young people

Family Fund is the UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income. They believe that that disabled & seriously ill children and young people and their families should have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities and aspirations as everyone else. Through the Supporting Families with Disabled Children programme in England, funded by the Department for Education, they can award grants for a wide variety of items, including sporting and play equipment, as well as family breaks, household items, clothing and IT equipment, for families with children and young people aged up to 16. The Your Opportunity programme awards grants for families with a young person still at home aged up to 24. Families can apply directly online at: www.familyfund.org.uk, where they can find full information about all our grants, eligibility criteria and a phone number to call for help with applying. They also offer a range of information and digital support services for families.

For more information about the grant schemes, to arrange a presentation for colleagues or families, or to discuss ways of working together to help more disabled children and young people get active, please contact Clare Bonetree, Partner Engagement Manager in England: [email protected].