Welcome to February's Lead Inclusion School update. In this month’s edition, you will find:

Events

• Dates for Your Diary
• Youth Sport Trust Conference 2026
• Inclusion Live 2026 - recordings available

Programme Updates

• BUPA x Youth Sport Trust Inclusion in action: Live Labs
• SEND Disney Inspired Shooting Stars
• Comets
• I AM Festivals

Resources

• Commonwealth Games 

Updates

• Vicci Wells OBE
• Case Study
• Termly Reporting
• Inclusion 2028 Impact

Events

Dates for Your Diary

• SEND Disney inspired Shooting Stars: Thursday 12 February, 3:30-4:30pm. Sign up here
• February Networking Call Lunchtime: Tuesday 24 February, 12:00pm. Sign up here
• February Networking Call Afternoon: Thursday 26 February, 3:30pm Sign up here
• SEND Disney inspired Shooting Stars: Wednesday 11 March, 3:30-4:30pm. Sign up here
• EE Disability Cup Festival Briefing: Wednesday 18 March, 3:30-4:15pm. Sign up here
• March Networking Call Lunchtime: Tuesday 17 March, 12:00pm. Sign up here
• March Networking Call Afternoon: Thursday 19 March, 3:30pm. Sign up here.

Youth Sport Trust Conference 2026

Bookings are open for the Youth Sport Trust Conference 2026, taking place on Wednesday 4 March at the Telford International Centre.

This year’s conference programme will explore the exciting potential of a new era for PE, sport and play, one where young people can truly thrive, with their happiness and health at the heart of schools and communities.

As part of the conference, we will be hosting a networking session on Wednesday 4 March at 1:20pm for all Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion Schools.

As a valued partner, I am pleased to let you know that your place at conference is fully funded by Youth Sport Trust. To reserve your free place please visit the main conference booking link and choose the ‘Conference – For Discount Codes’ ticket option on the booking system and use the discount code InclusionYST26. Please note it is one funded place at the conference per Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion School. To help you book your place, please click here to access our handy booking guide.

If you are a member of multiple Youth Sport Trust networks, you will receive communications from the relevant Youth Sport Trust leads which will provide you with specific information on the content taking place at the conference for these networks. Book now and be part of an event filled with insights, motivation and the opportunity to learn from the best in the field.

Inclusion Live 2026 

Thank you to everyone who shared Inclusion Live 2026 with friends and colleagues. We are pleased to share 1,595 people registered to attend sessions across the week, including 919 schools. A breakdown of the number of schools that signed up by local authority can be viewed here.

The recordings of the sessions, along with links to the resources that were mentioned, can now be viewed here.

A special thank you to our Lead Inclusion Schools that contributed to sessions, demonstrating the expertise and knowledge of this network.

If you have any feedback on Inclusion Live 2026, please do let us know by getting in touch with [email protected]. 

Programme Updates

BUPA x Youth Sport Trust Inclusion in action: Live labs

We are proud to be introducing a programme that seeks to upskill practitioners in how to adapt traditional sports to make them more inclusive for young people with SEND. Lead Inclusion Schools are being asked to deliver an in person ‘Inclusion in Action Live Lab’ to local teachers across mainstream and specialist settings with the aim of increasing teachers' knowledge and confidence in delivering inclusive provision for all young people.

Watch back the programme launch call to hear further details about what this programme involves, along with details about the resources and funding you will receive. 

Please register your participation in the programme here by Friday 13 February. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

SEND Disney Inspired Shooting Stars

The Disney Inspired Shooting Stars training has been reviewed and we are pleased to let you know that the training has been shortened and shifted to a later time to start after school, hopefully increasing the number of people able to attend. 

SEND Disney inspired Shooting Stars is an inclusive, extra-curricular programme designed to motivate primary school pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to develop their physical literacy. Created by The FA, it integrates movement with storytelling to enhance agility, balance and coordination, while fostering confidence and positive self-image.

Bring Marvel magic to your extra-curricular activities with exciting, adaptable missions that inspire pupils to get active and have fun.

• SEND Disney inspired Shooting Stars, Thursday 12 February, 3:30-4:30pm. Register here
• SEND Disney inspired Shooting Stars, Wednesday 11 March, 3:30-4:30pm. Register here.

Comets

All schools that expressed an interest in taking part in the Comets programme will be accepted and contacted over the next few weeks. The launch date is expected to be on Monday 23 February. If you have any more schools wishing to take part, please email us [email protected] to let us know.

I AM festivals

Thank you to those of you who have sent through your I AM leaders festival dates. We are still awaiting a few dates to be sent through, and just a reminder the deadline for delivery of the I AM festival co-designed with the young leaders is Tuesday 31 March. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact [email protected].

Resources

Commonwealth Games Resources

You can now find the updated 2026 Commonwealth Games resources on our website here, along with resources to support inclusive sport delivery through themed activities linked to major international events, including the Special Olympics World Games, and the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Here you will find challenge cards and videos to support your festivals.

Updates

Youth Sport Trust Celebrates Vicci Wells Being Awarded OBE For Outstanding Work on Inclusion in Sport

The Youth Sport Trust is delighted to congratulate Vicci Wells, our Assistant Director of Children & Young People, on being awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s New Year Honours 2026 for her services to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

This honour recognises Vicci’s tireless commitment, leadership and passion for creating inclusive experiences in physical education and sport. Over many years, she has been a driving force behind national change, championing children and young people who are too often marginalised and ensuring more young people can enjoy the benefits of PE, sport and play. Read more about Vicci’s journey in this article published by the Youth Sport Trust.

Case Study

We are still waiting for most case studies to be sent in. As part of Inclusion 2028, we are asking for each Lead Inclusion School to send us one case study by Tuesday 31 March, showcasing the local impact of Inclusion 2028. We have listed some examples below as ideas, but you are welcome to provide alternatives:

• The journey of a young person or group of young people impacted by Inclusion 2028
• The journey of an educational practitioner(s) with improved confidence or knowledge of inclusion
• Influencing senior leaders or external organisations about Inclusion 2028 and the impact this has had locally
• A festival or programme that has been delivered: showcasing the sustainable impact of Inclusion 2028.

To support you in writing the case study, we have provided an individual and school template which can be found below. Please ensure the relevant consent forms have been completed and shared when sending to the [email protected] inbox.

The individual case study template can be found here and the school case template can be found here. The young person parent/guardian consent form is here and the school journey consent form is here.

Termly reporting

A reminder that the next date that we will be pulling off data from your reporting spreadsheets will be Friday 27 March. Please ensure your spreadsheet is up to date for then and if you have been working on it offline please ensure you have sent a copy to us.

Towards the start of March you will also receive a unique snap survey link to complete your qualitative questions. The deadline to complete this survey will also be Friday 27 March.

Inclusion 2028 Impact

Throughout January, the Youth Sport Trust has been working alongside ASK Research Partners to evaluate the impact of Inclusion 2028, drawing on the termly data submitted by you as a network. We are incredibly proud of the headline figures below and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued commitment and hard work. These figures represent far more than data points, they reflect the lives of young people that you are positively impacting every single day.

Key Headline Statistics

• Since 1 April 2025, 12,778 schools have engaged with the network through CPD, role modelling at events, meetings or signposting
• During the Autumn Term delivery period, 2,230 practitioners engaged in CPD, including 1,011 teachers, 203 School Games Organisers, 526 teaching assistants, 223 trainee teachers, and 58 non-school staff. In addition, 979 practitioners were supported through role modelling and 1,445 through meetings, while 4,872 schools received support via signposting.
• A total of 13,241 young people participated in Inclusion 2028 activities during this period, including 10,773 young people with SEND. This brings the overall total since 1 April 2025 to 36,803 participants, of whom 24,400 have SEND.
• During this period, 1,589 young leaders were trained, including 391 with SEND. Since 1 April 2025, this has grown to 3,774 young leaders trained, with 1,057 having SEND.
• Since 1 April 2025, 91 extracurricular clubs have been established, creating a sustainable legacy, with 48% of participants being young people with SEND.

Thank you once again for your dedication to the network. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with you as we move into the next academic term.