Disability sport awareness training

One in five people in England have a long-standing limiting disability or illness, and that compared to other groups, disabled people are much less likely to take part in sport or physical activity. Sport England

An import element of our Physical Education PGCE is to focus on activities suited to pupils with additional learning needs but that can also be practiced by all pupils within secondary schools. This was introduced to our physical education trainee teachers through a disability sport awareness session – devoted to teaching pupils who are wheelchair users or sight or hearing impaired.

The emphasis of the day was on equity and inclusion in physical education and the training was designed to help trainees have a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these. The students learnt about the games of Boccia, sit-down volleyball, new age kurling, goal ball and parachute games. 

The day also raised awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children and how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development, including those with additional educational needs and disabilities, so that they can use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them.

Dr Gary Stidder, Physical Education PGCE and School Direct route leader said: “Adapting teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils is an essential quality of all physical education teachers so that they know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively.

“These types of experiences provide the basis and foundations for inclusive practice in PE and enable trainee teachers to plan and adapt activities according to different learning needs and involve all pupils in learning. It also shows them that there is a place for disability sport for able-bodied pupils within the secondary school PE curriculum and that can be a means for helping young people empathise with others who have additional learning needs.”

Watch the students in action in this short film created by student Victoria Jones: