Daily Gym Trail

Alleyn Court Preparatory School in Southend-on-Sea have spent the last five years focusing on creating a more inclusive sports environment for pupils with disabilities. The school has been running a daily gym trail for pupils with motor skill difficulties and a weekly Panathlon club for pupils with SEND to participate in adapted sports.

The school applied to Whizz Kidz Community Change Fund with the goal of expanding their programme of activities, planning to run an eight-week programme of inclusive sports activities where pupils would use only their upper body. This would create a level playing field for pupils of all abilities and mobility levels to compete against one another. The key aim of the project was to increase the confidence and engagement in sports of pupils with disabilities, learning needs and physical challenges, whilst also challenging preconceptions about disabilities and helping pupils to view the world through each other’s eyes.  

The school used their funding to purchase wooden dollies, paddles, low-level basketball nets and upper body equipment. Across the term, the young people took part in a number of activities, including seated volleyball, wheelchair benchball, bowling, table cricket, and wheelchair basketball. The pupils had a lot of fun and showed excellent team skills, empathy, positivity and wisdom over the course of the programme. The young wheelchair user at the school was able to engage in the sports to a much greater degree, and all pupils came away with a greater understanding of challenges that others may face if they have mobility difficulties.

As a result of the programme, the school has been able to develop the weekly Panathlon Club and can now offer a much more inclusive provision for sports and games within school. They are considering entering Panathlon competitions and a table cricket league too!

“The activities themselves went down a storm and the pupils loved them. They were a lot of fun and different to the school's usual offering. Pupils showed excellent team skills, empathy, positivity, wisdom and a responsible attitude. Several pupils went the 'extra mile' and really stood out with supporting and encouraging less able peers. Pupils that usually shy away from physical challenged enjoyed the programme.”