Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training supports teachers to lead the way

The English Federation of Disability Sport was delighted to be involved in the Youth Sport Trust's National Conference in Telford recently. One of the key elements was the importance of inclusion for young disabled people in school sport. The Sainsbury's Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training aims to support teachers to act upon the messages laid out by Baroness Sue Campbell CBE and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE during the conference.

Held on 5 and 6 February 2014, the conference, "Excellence through Collaboration", provided school leaders and PE practitioners with an opportunity to discuss key issues in the PE and school sport sector. It included a focus on how schools make maximum use of the Government's £150m a year investment for primary schools- announced during the conference.

Opened by Baroness Sue Campbell CBE, Chair of the Youth Sport Trust, the schedule included a range of keynote speakers, targeted sessions and networking opportunities. During the opening address Campbell focussed on the importance of literacy, learning and inclusion particularly within the primary school environment. She went on to explain that PE provides us with a vehicle through which we can achieve these aims and therefore sport can lead the way in the development of young people.

Ahead of the conference, Campbell highlighted the role schools play in tackling the "crisis of inactivity". She said:

"In the UK, and across the globe, we are facing a crisis of inactivity. The onset of sedentary lifestyles and time pressures both inside and outside of school mean that many young people are not being encouraged to lead healthy, active lives. However, being inactive not only adversely affects children's physical health, it can also undermine their mental and emotional wellbeing, and limit their ability to achieve in all areas of school life."

From a secondary school perspective, the opening speech highlighted the importance of a rich and relevant curriculum, progression and assessment and the provision of qualifications, skills and employment.

Baroness Campbell continued:

"A healthy, active child is more likely to perform better academically across all subjects; they will be more confident individuals; have greater employability skills, and are far more likely to have higher levels of self esteem. It is important that headteachers understand these benefits and use PE and sport creatively across their schools. Whilst many schools, including those at our conference, understand how to use PE and sport to make a much wider impact, others are missing the opportunity and risk not tackling some of the major issues facing young people."

 

On the second day, the English Federation of Disability Sport's (EFDS) Honorary President, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, spoke about her hopes to see more disabled children being physically active. An 11-time Paralympic gold medallist herself, she regularly speaks about the importance of quality PE for all children, especially young disabled people.  

The Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training programme provides a mechanism through which these primary and secondary school aims can be delivered. It supports teachers to have a clearer understanding of the needs of all pupils. The programme is developed by the four Home Country disability sport organisations and Sainsbury’s with the support of ParalympicsGB and the Youth Sport Trust. It provides free training to promote the use of teaching strategies to ensure all pupils are engaged and make good progress within PE.

Baroness Campbell highlighted the importance of PE leading the way in school. In line with this, the principles developed through the Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training can be applied to a number of school settings and across the curriculum.

Details on the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training, including details on how to book a place on a course, can be found on the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All pages by clicking here.