Teachers and school leaders are invited to take part in a free professional development session focused on using the Engagement Model in Physical Education (PE) to support meaningful progress for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Engagement Model is a statutory assessment system designed for pupils who are engaged in non-subject-specific learning. It places engagement at the centre of understanding how pupils with complex learning needs access and experience learning. Meaningful engagement is fundamental when identifying a child’s learning needs, as it underpins the development of independence, communication, and sustained attention.

Pupils with complex learning needs require a highly bespoke approach, where engagement acts as the gateway to progress. By carefully observing and responding to how pupils engage, practitioners can tailor learning opportunities that build key skills, promote active participation, and support purposeful interaction. A strong focus on engagement ensures that learning is meaningful, accessible, and responsive, enabling pupils to maximise their potential and enrich their educational experiences.

The Engagement Model in Physical Education: Supporting Meaningful Progress for Pupils with SEND will take place on Monday 9 February, starting at 3:45pm and running for 90 minutes.

With a specific focus on PE, the CPD will support teachers to observe, assess and respond to individual learning needs through personalised and meaningful physical activity.

Delegates will explore practical examples from Special Olympics Great Britain’s Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP), demonstrating how physical activity can be adapted to support engagement, progress and inclusion for pupils in specialist settings.

Session aims

• Explore the purpose and structure of the Engagement Model

• Understand how the model can be applied within PE for pupils with SEND

• Gain practical strategies to use the model as a baseline and formative assessment tool

• Hear national insights from Lead Inclusion Schools who have successfully trialled the model in PE

The session will be co-delivered by Lucy Mills, Senior Teacher for Sensory and Autistic Spectrum Condition at The Parkside School, Norwich, and Angela Lydon, Motor Activity Training Programme National Manager at Special Olympics Great Britain.

Lucy will lead on the principles of the Engagement Model, followed by Angela showcasing practical strategies for embedding the model through MATP. The session will conclude with a live audience Q&A.

Lucy said, “For pupils with complex learning needs, engagement is not an outcome but the starting point; it shapes understanding, focuses learning, and creates opportunities for meaningful development.”  

Register for the session here.

To find out more about the Engagement Model and access free Youth Sport Trust resources, visit:
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/school-support/free-resources/the-engagement-model