Sainsbury’s IPE training: pupil’s journey from classroom to staffroom
On the 29 November the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) organised a celebration event at the House of Lords, hosted by Sue Campbell the Chair of the Youth Sport Trust. This event highlighted the success of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training, with various Ministers, MPs and senior sporting figures joining together in celebration. One of the speakers at the event, was Gary Oliver who spoke passionately about his journey through PE and physical activity and how the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training has impacted and influenced him.
On meeting Gary, an Apprentice Teaching Assistant at Redwood School, it is hard to believe that by his own admission he was once a reserved, non-active young person who lacked confidence and hated PE. However, this sadly was once the case.
Gary said:
“At Primary school I would flinch when a ball was thrown towards me. I did not enjoy PE at all and my teachers did not support me to overcome my challenges.”
In 2009 Gary joined Redwood school, a secondary special school in Rochdale. David Butterworth, Gary’s PE teacher stated:
“When Gary joined Redwood he had no confidence, he couldn’t make eye contact with anyone and he would barely speak to any of the teachers or other students”.
Gary continued:
“I went through a tough time outside of school when I first started at Redwood, but I had a strong support network through my friends and the PE staff. Sport helped me to get my feelings together. It perked me up and enabled me to get back to where I was before everything happened at home.
“PE gave me the opportunity to try new sports, learn to swim and build a passion for keeping fit and healthy – my fear of physical activity soon disappeared!”
During his time studying at Redwood, Gary also had the opportunity to become involved in sports leadership, volunteering at a range of large events and sharing his experiences with other young people. Not only did Gary start to excel in PE and sport, his communication and confidence vastly improved and he became only the second student at Redwood to achieve a GCSE. He said:
“After I moved to college I wanted to give something back to Redwood School as it had given me so much. I therefore started volunteering with the PE department one day a week.
“At first, the transition was difficult, as many of the pupils still knew me; however through my passion for sport and by using my experience of being a pupil at Redwood I enjoyed making the change from being a student to helping other students.
“I have now been employed full time by Redwood, working as an Apprentice Teaching Assistant. This involves me helping the PE teachers, but also assisting Maths and English lessons. I am able to work with small groups of pupils and support them to progress and develop.
“I have made the successful transition to a respected member of Redwood School staff and thoroughly enjoy my new role. If it wasn’t for the inclusive opportunities I experienced in PE and the support I had from my teachers at Redwood, I would still be the shy individual who hated physical activity. My PE experience has completely changed me for the better!"
Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All launched in 2012 and initially focussed on the development and delivery of inclusive PE training for teachers in mainstream schools across the UK. The initiative provides free training to teachers, trainee teachers and school staff to improve the quality of PE provision for young disabled people.
Since the training began, tutors have delivered more than 575 workshops across the UK. Over 8,500 teachers, trainee teachers and school staff have attended one of the free workshops. It is estimated that 200,000 young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have benefitted.
For more information please contact the Active Kids for All team at EFDS or phone 01509 227750. Or about EFDS, please contact Sarah Marl, Marketing and Communications Manager or on her mobile 07764 291671.
