Five schools in Cambridgeshire have embedded Panathlon into their curriculums for pupils with disabilities and special needs – inspired by the outstanding example set by Cottenham Primary.

Cottenham Primary, north of Cambridge, have fully embraced Panathlon’s ethos since they started sending teams to our competitions four years ago. Their SEND pupils now benefit from lunch and after-school sports clubs and Panathlon-based sessions as part of the curriculum.

Richard Moore, Cottenham’s Deputy Head and Inclusion Lead, told us earlier this year that inclusive sport provision has “swept positive vibes across the whole school.”

Those vibes have now spread to five further schools in the area (Bar Hill, Histon and Impington Brook, Trumpington Park, Coton C of E and Bassingbourne – after local School Games Organiser, Claire McDonnell, invited SENCOs, PE Leads and students from those schools to witness the impact Panathlon was having at Cottenham. Three of those schools are part of the same academy trust and have since set up Panathlon-based competition between themselves.

Claire, who in her role at South Cambs School Sports Partnership has engaged 23 local schools in external Panathlon competitions this academic year, wanted to help continue the positive impact throughout the school year beyond external events.

She said: “The children at Cottenham were so proud to show off what they’ve been doing and it’s done wonders for their social skills and confidence.

“As soon as they saw the Panathlon sessions, the other schools were keen to set up their own activity – but rather than running them as extra-curricular clubs, they’ve set them up as intervention so children are coming out of their other lessons to do Panathlon activities. It’s embedding it into the curriculum.

“The external competitions such as multi-skills and 10-pin are so rewarding – but if they can do the Panathlon activities in their own school it’s so much more sustainable. SENCOs and Teaching Assistants have really bought into it, and it leads to significant improvements in the kids’ skills and confidence.”

The other schools have used their School Sports Premium to purchase Panathlon equipment. “This is just the start,” said Claire. “We’ve got another five schools who have asked for support to set up provision in September.”

As highlighted in independent research on Panathlon’s impact that was published last September, our impact on SEND children goes way beyond merely physical exercise and skill acquisition.

Richard Moore summed up the benefits his children have experienced at Cottenham:

• Team identity and shared experiences

• Chance to shine when representing the school

• Gross and fine motor skills

• Social skills – turn taking, rules, negotiation

• Leadership skills

• Experience of success and failure

• Positive attitudes to sport

• Status amongst peers

• Engagement of staff and parents

• Break from academic demands of the classroom

• Innovation and creativity

• Staff work with range of pupils across the school

Claire added: “Being able to offer Panathlon in the school environment is all about giving those children their own safe space. They probably struggle a bit in mainstream PE lessons, so being in a smaller environment with fewer children, supported by their one-to-one TA’s, with adapted equipment and activities, it’s a place where they can have some success.

“It has also given those kids real kudos. The mainstream kids want to join in with the activities. Most importantly it’s shown them that this cohort of pupils can succeed.”