FAIRFIELD Farm College is delighted to announce, PE tutor Rachel Bown is now the college’s Lead Inclusive Co-ordinator.
A network of 60 Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion Schools from across England have been established, each selected for their recognised expertise in engaging young people with Special Educational Needs/Disability (SEND) to participate, compete and lead through PE and School Sport.
They are Inclusion Champions and are visionaries for what high quality, meaningful and inclusive PE and School Sport should look like for every child.
Fairfield Farm College is the first FE College to be given the Lead Inclusion role, and is delighted to welcome Rachel Bown to the team as the county lead alongside her college PE tutor role.
Lead YST Inclusion Schools provide and organise CPD and practical sessions for any interested school work force in their county to help to empower people to be more inclusive in their practice.
Through the School Games specific programme, ‘Project Ability’, the lead YST Inclusion Schools are empowering people to be more inclusive and make a real difference for young people with SEND in school sport, especially with meaningful competition and competition pathways.
Through a range of innovative interventions and activities, the lead YST Inclusion Schools also support young people (including those who have a SEND) to lead the way – raising their aspirations and providing inclusive leadership opportunities. This is where the Leadership Program is developing from.
One of Rachel’s Project Ability core deliverables was to organise a countywide leadership training day called a ‘Step into Sport Camp’, this was held in October and seven Fairfield students were part of a total of 79 students from across the county who attended. The aim of the camp was to teach students who either have a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND) or who want to work with those who have a SEND, the key principles of leadership and how to apply these skills in a sporting environment.
Once trained the SIS Leaders are then deployed within their schools and out into the wider community. Rachel said, “I want to develop this into a pathway that really helps the Fairfield Farm College students integrate and see that they can become coaches and play scheme leaders etc in the future. So we have begun a pilot project with Castlemead Primary School. The aim is to engage their pupils who are currently disengaged from PE by improving their confidence and basic skills.
“Our Sports Leaders work with the students. They create fun games and activities which challenge the pupils but also help them relax and have fun. Everyone is included and everyone is given the opportunity to be themselves.
“We already have another two schools interested in this new initiative!
“Moving forwards I hope to develop a leadership accreditation which is appropriate and attainable for as many Fairfield students as possible. As the Youth Sport Trust say ‘ Sport Changes Lives’. I truly believe in the power of sport and as a college we can also make a difference to others.”
