The benefits of taking part in physical activity extend far beyond increasing a pupil’s daily active minutes. Meaningful participation helps young people build friendships, develop a sense of belonging, strengthen relationships with school staff, and gain skills that support them well beyond school life, contributing to positive whole-school outcomes.

Yet many pupils still miss out on opportunities to play and be active. ParalympicsGB’s Equal Play campaign revealed that only one in four disabled pupils are regularly takes part in Physical Education. Too often, pupils are left watching from the sidelines, sent to the library, or diverted to additional physiotherapy instead of being included.

ParalympicsGB identifies enhanced teacher training as a key solution, ensuring future teachers have the skills and confidence to deliver genuinely inclusive PE. Currently, 65.5% of PE teachers feel their initial training did not equip them with the skills needed to teach pupils with SEND. Unsurprisingly, a recent Teacher Tapp survey found that four in five teachers would welcome more guidance on supporting pupils with SEND particularly those with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

However, with tight school budgets and limited time in the school day, finding opportunities for professional development can be difficult. In response, the Youth Sport Trust is launching Inclusion Live Week 2026: a free week of accessible virtual CPD funded through the Department for Education’s Inclusion 2028 grant. The week will bring together expertise from across the sector to build practitioners’ confidence, knowledge, and skills in delivering inclusive physical education, school sport, and physical activity.

The programme includes six virtual sessions, co-designed using insights from educators nationwide. Each session offers practical examples, guidance, and signposting to resources. Guest speakers include Swim England, ParalympicsGB, The Football Association, Sport for Confidence, and the Association for Physical Education. Sessions include:

• Monday 26th January 15:30-16:30pm – Inspiring Inclusion through Major Sport Events
  • Discover how sporting moments can inspire inclusion, engagement, and celebration across schools and communities.

• Tuesday 27th January 15:30-16:30 – Unlocking the power of school swimming for young people with SEND
  • Discover how school swimming lessons support health, confidence, and curriculum outcomes for young people with SEND.

• Wednesday 28th January 15:30-16:30 – Creating inclusive environments for neurodivergent young people
  • Practical insights and strategies for supporting neurodiverse young people in PE, school sport, and physical activity.

• Thursday 29th January 12:15-13:15 – Embedding strength and balance in the daily lives of young people
  • Featuring resources co-created with young people, explore how a collaborative approach enables young people with SEND to achieve the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines.

• Thursday 29th January 15:30-16:30 - Designing an inclusive PE curriculum for every young person
  • Learn how to design an inclusive PE curriculum that enables all young people to thrive, supported by case studies and practical strategies.

• Friday 30th January 12:15-13:15 - Creating sustainable enrichment opportunities for young people with SEND
  • Learn how to align youth leadership opportunities to wider enrichment to ensure more young people with SEND are able to access the opportunities on offer.

To book your space, visit the Youth Sport Trust website here.

If you can spare just 60 minutes a day for your professional development, join us for Inclusion Live Week 2026!