Beyond Silence- Exploring the participation of Deaf Students in PE and School Sports

Context, Intent and Target Group

Background Information

Working with the local deaf school, Thomasson Memorial School to understand better ways we can integrate and support our deaf students in our events and competitions.

Target Group- KS3/4 Deaf students

What was the aim of work?

The aim of the work was to remove barriers and make our events more inclusive, both our SEND events and mainstream events. Secondly look at how we can encourage our deaf students to become role models and leaders.

Which outcome(s) did it focus on?

• 2. To ensure all competition has a clear intent and creates positive experiences based on the motivation, competence and confidence of the young people that need our support the most
• 4. To support the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership

Which expectation(s) did it meet?

• Developing a case study to show where you have made the most impact against local priorities, and through effective storytelling share your learning locally and nationally.
• Collaborating with key partners to inform the local and county offer to tackle inequalities and ensuring inclusive and safe practice.
• Work with schools to maintain and grow their active engagement in School Games.
• Co-ordinate and signpost schools and young people to a programme of relevant training of leadership, coaching, volunteering and officiating experiences.
• Co-design and deliver a broad and balanced School Games offer that is informed by insight and youth engagement and embeds positive experiences. It is expected that an SGO will facilitate a minimum of 12 targeted inter competitions/events/festivals with clear intent.
• Engage in county, regional and national networking by the Youth Sport Trust. This includes face-to-face and virtual support, Development Coach engagement, monthly updates and your termly review of your development plan.

Community links

• SEND leads / SENCO

Intent

We already had an established offer for pupils with SEND but we wanted to develop this further and better understand what the barriers are for deaf students and explore how we could enrich their opportunities in PE and School Sports.

Target group

• Secondary Schools
• SEND
• A sensory disability (e.g. problems with vision or hearing)
• Targeted Groups of Young People

Aligns to Schools Games Intents of:

• Build social skills and connections (i.e. sense of belonging)
• Provide inclusive opportunities

Implementation

Thomasson Memorial School for Deaf Children have been regular attendees in the SEND/Inclusive schools games offer that we deliver in Bolton. However, I was approached by their Head of PE and asked if I could go in and train some of their Y10 students in sports leadership. She explained that they were extremely passionate and enthusiastic about sport.

I went in and delivered a shorted version of the "competition organiser training" and was blown away by their ability to adapt and create their own versions of games that would better suit deaf children. One of the students also had a physical disability and the pupils were suggesting ways that they could include him in their games; passionate about ensuring he could participate fully and have his own chance at success. Although I couldn't sign, some of the children could lip read and they had a TA supporting through sign to help with instructions.

Following on from this we invited the leaders to support the Boccia competition for our secondary schools and "buddied" them up with some of our other sports leaders from a mainstream school. They did an amazing job and grew in confidence throughout the day.

The leaders have also then led some activities for the deaf children at their primary division. putting their skills and knowledge into practice and ensuring more opportunities for the primary students.

Continuing to develop the link between school games and Thomasson Memorial School, the Head of PE then told me about some of her pupils being fond of netball and she had set up a club for them. However a major barrier was that the club had to be during the day, as many of the students get transport from all over GM. She asked me how we could set up a match for these students, as they were desperate to play a competitive game. I emailed all schools to ask- however, being a match during the day meant that nobody could take part. So I then emailed England Netball and set up a meeting with the Netball Community Coach and have explored ways to engage more SEND children in Netball. We are planning our first ever Para Netball event in September. And our first ever SEND local leadership training event.

Speaking with the Head of PE at Thomasson made me realise that even though some of these students had a SEND, many of these were still able to access some more mainstream sports and it has made me evaluate our offer and not just provide inclusive sports such as boccia, New Age Kurling etc...but to offer tennis, netball, football and just adapt and make them more inclusive. Secondly, through this interaction I have managed to add Thomasson to the secondary PE whatsapp group, so that she can get involved in all things mainstream PE that she feels her students can access. From this they have entered the year 7 & 8 Town Athletics competition for the FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. I have spoken with event organisers about how we can include the students and make it accessible and have supported them with ensuring they fully understand the events and what they entail. Hopefully this will be the first of many events that Thomasson attend and similarly it will support the mainstream PE staff in their development and understanding on how to include children with SEND at their own schools.

Impact

Interview with one of the pupils at Thomasson demonstrated that through School Games she has grown in confidence and is now able to teach others and be a role model to younger deaf students.

Key Stakeholders (Secondary School teachers) reconsigning the importance of including SEND schools in their network.

SEND whatsapp group created to mirror the primary and secondary community group, so that friendly fixtures can be arranged to suit individual needs and to share best practise.

Deaf students being able to compete in mainstream sports and gain a sense of pride, belonging and achievement; equal to their peers.

Supported their application for school games mark and they achieved GOLD

Head of PE at Thomasson memorial has now established herself withing the heads of PE community, along with the SEND community and feels more confident to reach out to others and also has access to a wider network of opportunities through the GM Inclusion network.

wider offer of opportunities established-

Boccia,

Panathlon

New Age Kurling

Tennis

Netball

Athletics (Mainstream)

Football

Ten Pin Bowling

Rounders

Challenges

Timing of events- SEND events need to take place during the day. This can limit some opportunities and schools have to be selective on what they can and can't take part in.

Ensuring events were well staffed and well equipped to be adapted

Time- as a 3 day a week SGO, supporting one school in their journey was difficult to find the time when we already had so many events planned in the year. However, I am glad I spent this time, as now I believe the knock on effect will be life changing for some of these students.

Sustainability

Through supporting Thomasson into the network groups they are able to access all relevant opportunities.

Ensured our calendar has a variety of sports and activities that are not just SEND specific activities, but mainstream inclusive.

Provide more leadership opportunities for those with SEND and also ensure that all schools that are involved in the current leadership programme have at least 10% SEND pupils in the cohort.

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