The My Personal Best (My PB) programme is based on integrating life skills development into PE for pupils attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) or Alternative Provision (AP) settings. The My Personal Best approach connects the curriculum and daily life through physical activities, exploring the insights they can offer each other. Through participation in the programme, school staff receive training on the approach, enabling them to access resources and create an action plan to enhance their implementation.

Following feedback from Alternative Provision and Pupil Referral Units that have completed the programme, the approach of improving pupils’ life skills through sport and physical activity has benefited pupils who:

• Are disengaged from learning

• Have poor attendance

• Experience behaviour issues

• Have social and emotional difficulties

• Are looking to follow vocational learning routes

Below are two testimonies from teachers who have recently participated in the My Personal Best programme, reflecting on the positive impact the approach has had on their provisions and pupils.

Children’s Hospital School in Leicester developed a PE initiative focused on building students’ confidence, resilience and essential life skills through sport. Recognising that many young people struggle with self-belief, particularly in a mental health inpatient setting, the goal was to use PE as a positive and empowering outlet. All students aged 14–17 within the unit were offered weekly PE sessions, and around 75% chose to take part. These students came from diverse backgrounds, often with complex mental health and learning needs. The sessions were inclusive and tailored to individual abilities and interests to ensure accessibility for all.

The PE curriculum embedded the My Personal Best framework, using a variety of sports like football, rugby, boccia and tennis to encourage students to focus on one life skill at a time bespoke to the pupil’s individual goals—for example, communication or resilience. This focus on personal progress and structured reflection helped students identify how these skills could be transferred to everyday life.

The programme significantly boosted students’ confidence and engagement. Many who were initially reluctant or disconnected from education found renewed purpose through PE. One standout example was a student who initially refused to participate in anything other than swimming but eventually joined a local rugby team after discovering a new passion through PE. Staff tracked progress through reflection, feedback and observation, noting improvements in motivation, teamwork and overall well-being. The impact extended beyond PE, helping students reconnect with broader educational goals and form stronger relationships with staff.

The wider benefits also included increased staff engagement and a more holistic approach to student support. PE is now a catalyst not just for fitness, but for connection, healing and growth. Students often continued their newfound interest in sport after discharge, helping them to build routines and social links outside of the unit.

Given its success, the initiative will continue, with plans to expand to students on 12-week transition placements to support their reintegration into mainstream education. Future work will further embed life skills into the sessions to ensure continued personal growth. A key lesson from the process was the value of starting small, listening to feedback and adapting the approach based on students’ needs. The programme’s success lies in its flexibility, inclusivity and its ability to make each young person feel capable, valued and ready to face future challenges.

Olive AP Academy – Nene Valley in Wisbech, led by Millie Andrews, introduced the My Personal Best (My PB) programme to improve students' communication skills, reduce suspensions, and boost engagement and emotional regulation among a targeted group of pupils without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Seven pupils from underserved communities with SEND, aged 13–15, were selected to participate. They demonstrated strong engagement in practical subjects but struggled with emotional expression and social interaction. The programme was designed to help these pupils build essential life skills through structured physical education (PE) and Outdoor Learning (ODL) activities, both onsite and offsite.

The PE and ODL curriculum were adapted to embed My PB through reflection, self and peer assessments, and weekly RAG-rated tracking. The pupils also completed written reflections on their chosen skill during BTEC theory lessons, reinforcing the learning across subjects. A focus on oracy school-wide also saw the implementation of “word of the day” and “phrases of the week” to build emotional vocabulary. Notably, one student who joined the academy recently and was initially withdrawn demonstrated clear social progress, forming friendships and re-engaging with all aspects of school life:

"There is one student who stands out to me. They only very recently joined our school, and during the first few weeks they were very isolated and quiet. He would not talk to peers but was comfortable with his teachers. Week by week, we have worked with this student to improve his core social skills using the My PB resources. Over the weeks you can see a clear confidence boost with him communicating with his peers, teachers and professionals. Student A is now in a stable friendship group with other students who have engaged in the My PB programme. This is a fantastic improvement to see. Student A is accessing all parts of our provision now, when previously he would refuse to attend PE or Outdoor Learning. Although this student has only engaged in the programme for a half-term, I am very excited to see the long-term progress of his social skills."

– Teacher at Olive Academy, Wisbech

The programme has increased confidence, physical activity and communication in targeted pupils while also improving staff experience and lesson quality. Although wider community and family impact is still emerging, early signs indicate that My Personal Best is supporting long-term positive change in pupil outcomes, staff morale, and the academy's inclusive ethos.

You can find out more information about the My Personal Best for Alternative Provision programme through the Youth Sport Trust website, including the programme guidance and application information. Applications close on Sunday 22 June.

For more information, please contact the inclusion inbox on [email protected]