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EFDS recognises the importance of inclusive PE on World Teachers' Day

To recognise World Teachers’ Day on Sunday 5 October 2014, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is celebrating the success of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training Programme, delivered in partnership with the four Home Country disability sports organisations, Sainsbury’s, Paralympics GB and the Youth Sport Trust.

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5 October and is a UNESCO initiative. It is a day devoted to appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world. The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training Programme, which provides free training to teachers, trainee teachers and school staff, has been designed to support teachers to fully include young disabled people in the PE curriculum. It supports the aim of World Teachers’ Day to ensure the needs of future generations continue to be met by teachers.

Since January 2013, 210 workshops have been delivered across the UK to 3,082 participants. This now benefits an estimated 72,800 young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Before the training, only 35% of attendees rated their confidence, skills and knowledge in the inclusion of young disabled people in PE as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, compared to 96% of attendees after the workshop.

Elaine Brady, a secondary PE teacher in Northern Ireland who attended the training in February explains the impact it has had on her:

“The workshop made me more aware of the difficulties pupils face in PE and gave me a number of ideas for how I could help pupils progress and feel valued in lessons. Since the workshop I have adopted the STEP model in my lessons and I modify activities to ensure all pupils have the opportunity for success. For example, in my rounders’ lessons, pupils use different sized balls to help them hit and catch. I have also used bigger goals and played three versus two games so pupils have more space and time with the ball.”

Elaine continued:

“One of my pupils has cerebral palsy and previously sat out of lessons involving team games. The workshop taught me about using zones and I have successfully introduced this in my lessons. This has meant the pupil is much more included and has the opportunity to control the ball at her own pace. As a result, the pupil has said “I really enjoy taking part in team games now. Everyone wants to pass me the ball and I can take my time to pass it back without players trying to take it off me. Overall, I found the course interesting, useful and very informative. The skills I learnt have benefitted all my students, not only the individual with cerebral palsy, as it enables the freedom to develop and the opportunity to be successful.”

You can read more about the impact the training has had on other teachers across the UK on our Inclusive PE Training case studies page.

Some of the other individuals who have attended the training said:

“I really enjoyed the practical PE and this has given me great ideas to include all children in all activities. Brilliant ways to adapt PE lessons!” Mary, Northern Ireland

“A very thought provoking course. It made me re-think my PE lessons to include everyone.” Euan, Scotland

“The session was great and was extremely useful. I have gone from having little knowledge and confidence in how to make PE totally inclusive to having lots of ideas and strategies to take into the classroom.” Nicola, England

“I don’t teach PE very often as I am the head teacher, but I support and lead clubs. This course was very useful in showing that small changes can make a huge difference to a child’s inclusion. I thoroughly recommend it.” Elizabeth, England.

The 2014/15 academic year will see the 2,000th teacher trained in England and the 100th workshop delivered across the Home Countries. If you, or any of your colleagues would like to attend the free training, or for more information about the initiative, please contact the Active Kids for All team via email: AK4A@efds.co.uk or phone: 01509 227751.

This World Teachers’ Day do not let the young people you work with miss out on high quality inclusive PE. You can attend a free Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training workshop and ensure all your students are fully included!