Celebrating the 2024 Paralympics

To mark the Paris 2024 Paralympics, student PE teachers focused on a range of activities suitable for pupils with additional learning needs but that can also be practiced by all in secondary schools.

This import element of our PGCE and School Direct Physical Education course was introduced to the new student teachers through a disability sport awareness session – devoted to teaching pupils who are wheelchair users or who are  sight or hearing impaired.

The emphasis of the day was on equity and inclusion in physical education and the training was designed to secure an understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these. The student teachers 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. They learnt 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.

Pedagogical models such as The inclusion spectrum (Open, parallel, modified and separate activities), The STTEPP Model (Space, Time, Task, Equipment, People, Places) and The TRREE Model (Teaching, Rules and Regulations, Equipment and Environment) were discussed and implemented into practical sessions.

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. They need to know when and how to adapt activities appropriately, using approaches which enable all 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 PE teacher Rory Thompson: