EFDS welcomes DfE's extra funding to double the number of PE specialists
Last week, the Department for Education announced extra funding would be made available to double the number of physical education specialists working in primary schools in England. The English Federation of Disability Sport welcomes the funding, which could ensure more young disabled people will enjoy the benefits of lifelong activity.
Over £360,000 will be invested by the Department of Education’s (DfE) in to training for primary teachers with a specialism in Physical Education (PE). The funding recognises their stance on the importance of specialist staff in ensuring children develop “a sporting habit for life”. They hope this additional investment will allow 240 primary PE specialists to be in schools by September 2015.
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) understands the impact that positive PE experiences have on young people’s lives and the charity’s vision is that disabled people are active for life. As a result, EFDS and the other Home Country Disability Sport Organisations and Sainsbury’s, with support of Paralympics GB and the Youth Sport Trust, have come together to develop Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training.
This is a free training initiative, which is specifically designed to improve the quality of PE provision for young disabled people in mainstream schools across the UK. Through the training, teachers will be supported to ensure all pupils are engaged and make good progress within PE, both of which are essential in outstanding teaching.
Barry Horne, Chief Executive of EFDS, said of the training:
“A young person’s experiences at school has a significant impact on how active they are in adult life. As a result, high quality, inclusive PE is essential to inspire and encourage young disabled people to lead a full and active lifestyle through sport. The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE programme is an invaluable and freely available training initiative, designed to improve teachers competence in providing fully inclusive and positive PE experiences to all young people.”
The training is available for free to all teachers, trainee teachers, classroom assistants, learning support assistants and special educational needs co-ordinators working in mainstream schools across the UK.
For further information about the Inclusive PE Training programme, to book a place on a course or to host a free workshop at your school, contact the Active Kids for All team through email AK4A@efds.co.uk or by telephone 01509 227751.
