Inclusive PE Training praised by primary school PE co-ordinator
Thousands of teachers, trainee teachers and school staff have attended a Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training workshop since the programme’s introduction.
In 2014, a member of staff from a primary school attended the training. The attendee was the school’s experienced PE co-ordinator.
In her view, PE has the potential to support pupils to gain a range of skills, such as “communication, sharing, teamwork and independent thinking, as well as being able to work in big groups.”
She told the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) that she wanted to improve her knowledge and skillset:
“My school has a wide range of 30 children of different abilities. We have some autistic children, some children with behavioural issues and some disabled children.
“There are also pupils who don’t like or enjoy PE, or who are overweight children.”
She was therefore keen to develop her understanding and skills on how to effectively support all pupils with diverse needs to progress in PE lessons.
The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training Programme provides free training and resources for teachers, trainee teachers and school staff to provide a high quality PE curriculum for all young people.
It is designed to improve confidence, knowledge and skill in including, challenging and progressing all pupils by embedding inclusive practice in planning, delivery and assessment.
Described as “highly enjoyable, relevant and informative” by past participants, numerous Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training workshops are being arranged for the next academic year.
The experienced PE co-ordinator later reported that she found the best aspects of the Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE Training to be the practical elements, and the ways the tutor demonstrated how simple, albeit effective, adaptations can be implemented to ensure PE lessons cater for diverse needs.
She gave an example:
“Playing table tennis and having the sides of the table up and changing the type of bats - just little things that you would not necessarily think of straight away.”
She also highlighted the importance of focusing on communication with pupils, and ensuring that teachers explain thing accessibly and in a way that is age appropriate and clear, or in her words:
“How a task is explained and the importance of simplifying what is said. Those were the two main things that I took from the workshop and can apply to support my pupils."
Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training has been established through a £1 million investment from Sainsbury’s. The four Home Country disability sport organisations alongside Sainsbury’s, with support of Paralympics GB and the Youth Sport Trust, have joined forces in its delivery.
To benefit from the final year of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training Programme and receive your free place on a workshop or to find out about hosting your own workshop, please visit the programme webpage or contact EFDS via email ak4a@efds.co.uk or call 01509 22 77 51.
