In a shocking revelation, Paralympic champion Martin Hewitt has highlighted that many disabled children are still being excluded from Physical Education (PE) classes in schools across the UK, echoing his own experiences from three decades ago.
ParalympicsGB has responded to this ongoing issue by launching the Equal Play campaign, urging the UK government to take action. The campaign focuses on four key areas:
- Equipping teachers with tools for inclusive PE
- Improving teacher training programmes
- Prioritising PE in the school curriculum
- Increasing the number of disabled individuals in teaching roles
Current state of PE for disabled students
Recent findings reveal a concerning trend that many disabled children, particularly in mainstream schools, are not given the same PE opportunities as their peers. In 2021-22, 30.5% of children with long-term, limiting disabilities received less than an average of 30 minutes of daily physical activity.
Despite these obstacles, there is hope. A survey found that 80% of disabled children either like or don’t mind PE, indicating a willingness to participate. Culture Secretary Lucy Nandy expressed support for the Equal Play campaign during a visit to ParalympicsGB in Paris. Additionally, the UK government has called on schools to enhance PE and sport opportunities for disabled young people.
This issue continues to be a critical point of discussion in the education and sports sectors, with hopes that increased awareness and targeted initiatives will lead to more inclusive PE practices across UK schools.
For more information, see Youth Sport Trust, who has recently released a toolkit to respond to SEND needs in PE.
