Neurodiversity in PE and school sport - Creating inclusive experiences

Making PE and school sport accessible and engaging for neurodivergent students, featuring insights from the ADHD Foundation.

Resources:

• Visit the ADHD website for more information
• Download the promoting inclusion for neurodiverse young people guidance

The Paralympics legacy - Embedding inclusive values in school sport

Continuing the momentum of the Paralympic Games and Team GB's Equal Play campaign to promote inclusivity in school sports, with insights from a Paralympic athlete and some inspiring young people.

Resources:

• Watch the recording of the session
• The session is also available to watch with British sign language
• Watch the Equal Play documentary, available on Channel 4

Physical activity for progress - Improving attendance and behaviour

How Youth Sport Trust’s My Personal Best for Alternative Provision Programme is driving positive change in attendance and behaviour through physical activity.

Resources:

• Watch the recording of the session
• The session is also available to watch with British sign language
• Find out more about My Personal Best for Alternative Provision on our website
• Purchase My Personal Best resources

Networking opportunities:

In response to research conducted by Leeds Beckett University and Loughborough University we share a half termly newsletter focusing on Alternative Provision.

We also launched our termly virtual networking sessions in December to share opportunities and best practice. We hope this will be an exciting and informative venture for you to connect with other practitioners from across the alternative provision space.

Upcoming sessions:

• 02 April 2025 - What is the school games mark? How does this look in an alternative provision setting.
• 02 July 2025 - Planning ahead for the next academic year. How are you going to put PE, Sport and Play at the heart of your school? 

If you would like to join the calls or receive the newsletter please contact Katie Phillips.

A practitioner’s guide to inclusive physical activity - Resources and recommendations

A comprehensive guide to key resources and training for delivering inclusive physical activity, with expert contributions from The FA, Activity Alliance, Swim England, and Youth Sport Trust's Lead Inclusion School Network.

Resources:

• Watch the recording of the session
• The session is also available to watch with British sign language
• Find out more about school swimming and water safety on our website
• View the SEND Shooting Stars resource on the Girls' Football in Schools website
• View the SEND Shooting Stars festival resource on the School Games website
• Take the Project B1 - access training module, available on the UK Coaching website
• Register on the Inclusive Education Hub
• Take the Inclusive PE module on the Activity Alliance website, use the code 'Inclusion2024' to access the course for free
• View the All About Autism e-learning available on our website
• Access the TOP Sportsability resources on our website, use the code 'YSTINCLUSION54' to access the resources
• See guidance from the National Disability Sport Organisations in the SEND Inclusion toolkit
• Download the promoting inclusion for neurodiverse young people guidance
• Access the Youth Voice resources available on our website

Featuring Professor Brett Smith and an interactive session demonstrating how to create activities, focusing on strength and balance to meet the UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines for young people with SEND.

Resources:

• Watch the recording of the session
• The session is also available to watch with British sign language
• Read the CMO guidelines for physical activity for disabled children and disabled young people
• Read our blog entitled 'Stronger Together', available on our website
• Access the Youth Voice resources available on our website

Sensory Circuits

This CPD session included a brief look at the theory behind Sensory Circuits, providing lots of practical, actionable examples of how to deliver it within your setting. This included how to set up a sensory circuit with and without equipment, including how to adapt to the cognitive and physical needs of Children and Young People.

Watch in full screen here

Download the slides here

Access Sensory Circuits Cheat Sheet here

Access some additional information on weighted blankets and lap pads here

Beyond the school gates... Sport, PE & Preparing for Adulthood through the eyes of 'Experts by experience'.

In this session we explored the impact of PE and sport on Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) and sustainable long-term outcomes for young people with additional needs. Learners with SEND often experience the most significant drop off in participation & fitness activity at key transition points such as primary to secondary, post 16 and into adulthood. As professionals, perhaps the biggest impact we can have is to connect learners and families with clubs and facilities in their community and help foster a love of sport and staying active beyond the school gates.

Watch in full screen here

Download the slides here

Josh – Josh is 23 and lives with autism. Josh is passionate about physical activity and the benefit it brings not only to himself but to other young people in schools. He’s determined to one day become a coach himself.

Chelsea – Chelsea is 19 and on the goalball panel. She is a passionate and determined sports person playing her sport both with her family and teammates. 

Jacob – Jacob is 20 years old currently at university studying Sports Science at Nottingham Trent University. He plays goalball and is on the GB talent pathway. 

Matthew – Matthew is 21 and is a tennis player with a learning disability and dyspraxia. He is a passionate sports person and has just returned from the Special Olympics world games with a gold and bronze medal. Voted York Sport Young Disabled Person of the year in 2019 and 2022, Matthew is keen to share his experiences with others.

Balraj – Balraj is 23 and has lived with multiple sclerosis since he was 18. He is an enthusiastic and passionate advocate for disability and social impact causes. He is looking forward to building his public speaking career further and will share some amazing life experiences such as being President at Aston University. 

Watch in full screen here

Are You Listening? Strategies for Communicating Effectively with SEND Students

In this session - led by Occupational Therapist Faith Newton - you will:

• Learn about the communication challenges that autistic and ADHD young people face at school. 
• Explore some common differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent communication. 
• Take away practical strategies to make your communication more effective and more inclusive. 

Watch in full screen here

Download the slides here

Inclusion 2024 Impact

Hear from our external researchers on the impact Inclusion 2024 has had so far, listen to stories from practitioners that have been involved in programmes and have the opportunity to listen to questions asked to the session hosts.

This session was led by Amy Skipp from ASK research.

Watch in full screen here

Download the slides here