Alexandra Infants - talk and workshops
Fun for the Young - inclusive sports workshops at Alexandra Infants School
The young pupils at Alexandra Infants School in Beckenham, South London, had a fun morning playing inclusive sports.
I was invited to talk to this lovely small school by a parent of a boy with a partially formed hand and was welcomed by the excellent Deputy Head Maria Cenayko.
The assembly was very well received, the pupils sitting remarkably still and giggling at all the right bits. I was particularly pleased that one of the pupils with autism – the school has two classes in their “Autistic Specialist Provision” – worked out what I use my hook for! A very well deserved round of applause.
Each class of 30 had 30 minutes playing inclusive games with me. Their class teachers and teaching assistants helped out, so we could have three stations on rotation: new age kurling, target games and sitting netball. All were enjoyed, confirmed by the noise levels!
I learned that sitting netball needed to be made a collaborative rather than competitive game. The whole group had to get the ball from one low level basket to another. As the person with the ball couldn’t move that required the others to scoot or shuffle on their bottoms along the path and taught them to pass and move. To make it more complicated, I then insisted that everyone in the group had to touch the ball before a basket could be scored. They had to collaborate and include.
The two hours flew past. Great fun was had by all and I look forward to visiting again.
Hinchingbrooke School Leadership Training
Leadership training: Hinchingbrooke and Godmanchester schools
Sixteen sports leaders from Year 9 of Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon, had real fun while learning on Friday 22 November. They learned through play 5 new sports in the morning and then led a Power House Games for 60 Year 5s from Godmanchester Community Academy in the afternoon.
“No one was left on the bench” and rule No. 1 was joyously observed – Everyone had FUN!
All 5 sports – boccia, new age kurling, sitting volleyball, goalball and sitting netball – had their champions; they were all popular.
The sports leaders learnt these new games in the morning, helping to refine the rules of a new game, sitting netball, designed by Power2Inspire’s founder John Willis. And then in the afternoon, in teams of 3 they had to lead a group of 12 youngsters through a carousel of all 5 sports.
For the sitting netball they added an exclusion zone around the low hoops, so “dunking” was not possible and imposed a 3-second limit to holding on to the ball. This was possibly the most popular activity in the afternoon. Godmanchester’s PE co-ordinator suggested for their end of term sporting challenge they would use this as it was good for everyone.
The smiles and laughter were infectious. Despite a tight area, we were able to flex the games to fit the space and there was lots of cheering and encouragement.
If your school’s sports leaders or ambassadors (sporting knowledge or ability is definitely not required) would like to experience “Fun while Learning” please get in touch by clicking here.
The Sports Leaders were asked what they had learned:
“That you can change the rules so everyone can play and anyone whether they are disabled or not can play these sports.”
“That anyone can play these sports and have lots of fun!”
“How to include people that aren’t as confident. Also different types of sports that are way more inclusive.”
“How to coach younger kids. How to treat the younger kids. How to create a fair game.”
“How to interact with younger and different people. Help them out with stuff they’ve wanted to do.”
Felsted School Power House Games
Schools come together for inclusive sports day at Felsted School
We are delighted to “borrow” the report published in the Felsted School newsletter! It read as follows:
“Felsted (in association with Silver Screen Studio and Gilbert and Grays) organised the Felsted School Power House Games 2019. The games brought Felsted Prep School, Felsted Senior School, Cookes Spinney Primary School, Columbus School, Duncombe Prep School and Felsted Staff and Parents together to take part in an extravaganza of sport. Each team was made up of one member from each of the schools with an adult to run the team. The onus was on the team to work together to get the most out of every sporting activity. The diverse ability and ages of the team made for a wonderful morning of inclusive sport.
I would like to thank our Felsted parents for being such good sports and amazing ambassadors for the school, along with our own prep and senior school pupils who as always displayed sporting spirit and a kind heart. Our visitors were no less impressive and the pupils from Cookes Spinney and Columbus School certainly left with plenty of smiles. It was also great to see a fellow prep school in Duncombe, get so much from the day and thank you to their staff for bringing over such a great group of pupils.
Each team took part in 5 sporting activities, ably run by our very own Lower Sixth BTEC PE students and John Willis, Jememy Maklin and Patrick Gosling. John Willis works tirelessly for Power2inspire and it was again a pleasure to meet him today and work with him to present such a lovely event.”
Leadership Training with Chesterton Community College
Leadership Training with Chesterton Community College
Thanks to the iWill Fund and the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire awards Power2Inspire visited Chesterton Community College on Friday 1 November to teach 17 young students that sport can be truly inclusive. They will be taking their new skills into Castle Special School to play these or other games with some students with complex needs.
The girls and boys played boccia, new age kurling (both competitive and imaginative), adapted basketball with low nets, skittles (two teams racing each other to knock as many pins down in a minute) and goalball. As can be seen from the photos, there was much laughter and many smiles, proving that learning can be fun.
Another successful afternoon of Inclusive Golf
Smiles, laughter, fun! All were had at Power2Inspire’s Fifth Festival of Inclusive Golf held at Cambridge Lakes Golf Course on Friday 6th September. The intrepid players braved an early squall to earn a wonderful late summer’s evening. And after an exciting round of Texas Scramble we were all treated to a lovely barbecue. A really lovely way to celebrate inclusion.
A big thank you to Bob Barnes who again hosted the event. The course is in great condition and so pretty – you really cannot believe you are only just over a mile from the centre of Cambridge. Do look out for the ducks in the gallery of photographs at the bottom.
Congratulations to all who took part, especially Becca, Nuala and Daniel. The highlight of the day was Daniel hitting the pin. Also congratulations to Brian and Richard who partnered our John Willis to a win, with a respectable combined score of 30. Richard as a novice played extremely well, scoring a two on the seventh.
Everyone lived up to our motto and rule number, “To have fun!” The barbecue and drinks were enjoyed in the late summer evening sunshine, as Brian was presented with his first ever sorts trophy! Happy times.
And thanks to all, especially to our anonymous donor, who helped make a surplus on the event of £265. This will help us deliver community games in March, Ely, Ramsey and St Ives for a couple of weeks: thank you everyone!
If you’re now inspired for Inclusive Sport then do join us at our next big event:
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