Playground to Podium - Playground to Podium - Lode Heath SSP

Playground to Podium

‘Playground to Podium’ is the new national strategy for the identification, development and support of talented young disabled athletes, developed by the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England, UK Sport and the

British Paralympic Association. The Playground to Podium framework forms a pathway which will take young disabled people from PE, through participation, to high level performance and competition.

What is the aim of the Playground to Podium framework?

The ultimate aim of this pathway is to produce our next Paralympians and elite disabled athletes. However it is essential that all young disabled people are able to take part in high quality provision of their choice. The interventions within the Playground to Podium framework and the PESSYP

Disability work strand, collectively aim to support the achievement of a 5 hour offer for young disabled people, and ensure that those with a higher level of ability are identified and are able to access a talent pathway.

Who is the Playground to Podium framework for?

Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and pupils either on Action plus or with statements, may not be eligible to access sport performance routes as young disabled sportspeople. Whilst development work around the framework can clearly be inclusive of SEN pupils, the focus of these interventions is around pupils with physical and sensory impairments and those with severe learning disabilities.

Therefore targeting young disabled people in mainstream schools, as well as in special schools is essential.

What is the School Sport Partnership role in delivering the framework?

Turning the framework into opportunities for all young disabled people to participate and perform is the responsibility of a large range of sports organisations, but is heavily dependant on strong foundations being laid by School Sport Partnerships. The four key interventions that School Sport Partnerships are tasked with delivering are:

1. CPD for teachers to develop skills in identifying and supporting ability in young disabled people.

2. Inclusive or dedicated Multi-skill Clubs, to develop the fundamental movement and sport skills of all young disabled people aged 7-11.

3. Multi Sport Clubs for ages 11-18, offering regular out-of-school-hours coaching opportunities to enhance the sporting skills of those young disabled people wishing to progress further in a sporting environment.

4. Identifying Ability Days to bring together those young disabled people identified as showing higher ability in PE and Sport, through PE curricular routes, multi sport opportunities and competitions, to experience a range of high quality coaching environments through which to assess their sporting potential.

What are the next steps for young disabled people identified as having higher ability in PE and Sport?

Young disabled people, who are confirmed as having higher abilities at the Identifying Ability Days, will be signposted to the County Assessment Centres for a more formal assessment and high quality coaching in specific sports.

School to club links should also be developed at the multi-skill and multi sport clubs to ensure that all young disabled people have further opportunities to participate and perform in community based sports clubs.

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