England Football and the Premier League have launched Comets in schools, a free extra-curricular SEND football programme for girls and boys aged 5–11.

Designed as a pan-disability format, the largest in disability football, the programme enables children with a broad range of impairments and health conditions to play together in a supportive, inclusive environment.

To support delivery in education settings, England Football has worked in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust and its Lead Inclusion School Network to develop training and practical resources for teachers and school staff, helping schools embed inclusive football provision beyond PE lessons.

Extra-curricular sport plays a vital role in boosting physical activity, building friendships and developing skills such as resilience, teamwork and communication. However, children with SEND remain significantly less likely to access these opportunities. Comets in schools aims to address this inequality by providing a flexible, play-based programme focused on confidence, belonging and enjoyment, designed alongside individuals with lived experience.

The launch aligns with England Football’s strategy, Inspiring Positive Change, which includes expanding participation opportunities for disabled players and strengthening inclusive pathways across the game.

Through its collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust, schools receive guidance and inclusive delivery models to help successfully implement the programme within their setting.

Victoria Wells OBE, Assistant Director, Children and Young People, Youth Sport Trust, said, “At the Youth Sport Trust, we know that inclusive extra-curricular opportunities are vital for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities to feel seen, valued and part of something meaningful. Programmes like Comets create inspiring, accessible spaces where every child can experience the joy of movement, build friendships and develop confidence through play. By supporting schools to remove barriers and design opportunities around individual needs and strengths, we can help more children with SEND take part, belong and thrive, both in sport and beyond.”

Schools involved in piloting the programme have already seen positive impact:

• “Comets is an excellent programme. Its resources are incredibly easy to use, and the children loved the unique session structure with a first half, half-time, and second half just like a football game. There is a real focus on developing the skills needed to play football, and the sessions are exciting, fun and inclusive. Everything is easy to adapt to support all abilities and needs. The inclusion of the symbol cards and the regulation zone has increased participation and allowed some of our students who find it difficult to stay in a whole session to feel more comfortable and supported.”
  
  Kate Petty, Teacher at Marjorie McClure School, Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion School
• “We were extremely fortunate to be invited to be part of the Comets pilot programme and we are now seeing the schools that were involved continuing to deliver sessions themselves. The Comets clubs have allowed for a sense of ownership with the children who attend through the completion of the player passport. This allows for consideration of much more than simply a football club and can be tailored to the needs and interests of the children who attend. We’re really excited for the year ahead welcoming more schools onto the Comets programme.”
  
  Dave Rohman, Active Communities Development Manager, Active Blackpool

For more information, please contact your local Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion School or email the Youth Sport Trust Inclusion Team at [email protected].