Our Special Schools programme ‘I’m IN’, delivers specially adapted gymnastics which empowers and brings confidence to disabled
children.
By introducing and supporting gymnastics activity in special schools, together with creating links to and preparing community clubs, disabled youngsters will gain access to gymnastics and make an important transition into
community activity.
Co-creation at Limington House School
Thanks to the Peter Harrison Foundation and BOOST for their grants, we have been able to re-ignite the development of this fantastic programme.
Key to the programme is the co-creation with young disabled people, their parents, teachers and coaches of session plans, music and resources.
During 2024 & 2025 we started to test and develop exercises and activities in our first step to make Gymnastics accessible to all children attending Special Schools in the UK. Taking an adapted version of our seated Love to Move programme we ran sessions initially for 13–16-year-olds at Limington House School.
The Teacher from one class reported: “The team have said that the children have all increased in their confidence and gained a better understanding of what gymnastics entails (i.e. co-ordinating mind and body). When I supported students in one session, I was so impressed with the sustained concentration of all of the students, particularly those with complex needs. Equally, the children always come back from gymnastics buzzing!!”
Alexandria has been leading the sessions and said: “During the sessions we are hoping to achieve inclusion through movement, any child should be able to enjoy the benefits of movement to music through the programme and feel great about themselves. I believe the children feel relaxed and more focused after completing the programme. Everyone, teachers included, leave the session with a smile on their faces, and a bouncier attitude. Music has a huge impact and allows children to express themselves. With the Fine Motor Skills & Bilateral Asymmetrical Patterns, the children are using both sides of the brain which, for them, helps keep them stimulated and engaged.“
Seeking Sponsors & Grants
With this programme, we are improving the confidence, skill, coordination, well-being, and socialisation for the children involved and, with funding, this programme is ready to be upscaled and taken to thousands more disabled children across the UK. For more information, please contact: theteam@britishgymnasticsfoundation.org
Pilot Special Schools programme
From 2016-2018, we worked in three Special Schools, successfully engaging 296 children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). We delivered a full term of gymnastics for all the children, culminating in a school-wide gymnastics festival. We worked directly with the teachers to improve their confidence and skill in adapting gymnastics for their children, so the programme is sustainable in the school long after our direct delivery finishes.
A group of children who we talked to at Tettenhall Special School told us that “this is the first time that we have laughed our heads off in PE at School.” They thought the gymnastics lessons were interesting and were so much fun! “The Children are happy, they’re excited, they’re joining in and they’re taking part; every child deserves that opportunity!” Head Teacher, Tettenhall Special School
