Experienced PE teacher and tutor praises Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training
Sainsbury's Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training is an exciting opportunity for teachers and support staff to participate in free training and resources to learn to provide a high-quality PE curriculum for all young people.
The English Federation of Disability Sport alongside Youth Sport Trust the delivery partner in England, gathers numerous examples of positive feedback, from both participants and tutors, delivering the workshop on the ground.
David Butterworth is a Sainsbury's Active Kids for All Inclusive PE tutor, as well as PE Leadership and Innovation Project Co-ordinator at Redwood Secondary School in Greater Manchester.
He told EFDS:
“As a school, Redwood have led on inclusion in PE throughout Greater Manchester. As Head of PE, over the last two years I have become increasingly involved in tutoring Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training. I go out to different schools, secondary and primary, and groups of newly-qualified teachers (NQTs) and deliver the workshop.
“I balance my tutoring with my teaching, which can be challenging at times. Redwood are very supportive of me spreading the word with inclusion, and the ethos is that if more people are inclusive when it comes to teaching then more opportunities for people like our pupils will arise.”
Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training is designed to improve confidence, knowledge and skill in including, challenging and progressing all pupils by embedding inclusive practice in planning, delivery and assessment.
As an experienced teacher, David says the workshop fills a niche in an NQT’s training:
“In the 18 months I have been tutoring the Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training I have been spreading the message that everyone can engage and compete at any level. Mainstream schools have to meet exam pressures and get results, and the pressure on PE teachers can be high. And young people with additional needs sometimes require a little more time, or lessons to be adapted in a certain way.
“The biggest thing for me is addressing mainstream teachers’ fear-factors. PE teachers all go through the same system to become qualified, in which they are often taught limited inclusive methods. It can be stressful for teachers – the workshop can have a huge impact on a PE teacher’s career.
“Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training gives teachers a great grounding – as a teacher it certainly gives me the scope to be flexible to allow all young people to achieve. It’s not rocket science, just simply using tools like the STEP principles to create a change in attitude and mindset.”
Described as “highly enjoyable, relevant and informative” by past participants, numerous Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE workshops are being arranged for this academic year.
According to David, the workshop is not only enjoyable for participants – tutors appreciate it too.
“Delivering the workshop is fantastic – it is the best training programme I have ever delivered. There is a moment in every workshop where you see the penny drop. Lightbulbs go throughout the room, as people realise simple changes can allow all pupils to achieve. Those with addititional needs can achieve in PE and enjoy it as well alongside their peers.
“As a PE teacher I’ve been offered a number of courses on inclusion and have often struggled to see what I could take away. On the Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training, I make sure I teach people not only skills but then also give them an indication of how they can implement it all, that’s what makes this different.
“You are guaranteed to get something from Sainsbury's Inclusive PE Training. It will benefit you as a PE teacher at every level, and it will help you to help develop and progress young disabled people. It will help you develop that individual and have everyone in your classroom learning on a level playing field, developing together.”
Funding for the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training is currently only available until July2016. Workshops are now limited and will be provided on a first come first served basis, to have a chance of benefitting from the final year of the 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 227751.
