Marie Tidball MP welcomes ParalympicsGB Athletes to Parliament

Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has welcomed ParalympicsGB athletes to Parliament to launch plans so every disabled child can take part in PE.

Marie and the paralympians met with MPs, including the Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock and Minister for Schools, Georgia Gould, to discuss the launch of ParalympicGB's new recommendations for government as part of their Equal Play campaign, to ensure every child has equal access to physical education in school.

Over 20 MPs attended the event, to speak to athletes about their own experiences of being left out of sport in school growing up, and the value of a truly inclusive education system where all children can equally take part in PE and school sport.

The new proposals launched by ParalympicsGB were developed in collaboration with the Association for PE, Activity Alliance and the Lawn Tennis Association, as well as teachers and Paralympic athletes, GB wheelchair tennis player Ruby Bishop, and supported by Marie Tidball MP and Alice Macdonald MP. They form a critical part of ParalympicsGB’s Equal Play campaign which calls for equal access to PE and school sport for the 1.5 million disabled children who make up more than 15% of the school population.

Research carried out by Activity Alliance revealed that only 1 in 4 disabled children regularly take part in PE and school sport, while research by ParalympicsGB found that 4 in 5 teachers have received no PE-specific inclusion training and 95% of teachers face structural barriers such as staffing, space and equipment. Fewer than 1 in 10 teachers feel very confident delivering Para sport.

Alongside embedding disability inclusion and inclusive PE in teacher training and continued professional development, the new recommendations include:

Increasing the number of disabled teachers so that by 2035, 20% of the teacher and trainee workforce is disabled – reflecting the percentage of disabled people in wider society

Introducing a framework whereby all schools ensure their outdoor and indoor PE spaces, changing facilities and equipment are accessible for disabled children__ __

The Government have already committed £300,000 to their Inclusion 2028 programme, which works with expert schools to deliver training to teachers to deliver inclusive PE lessons for pupils with SEND. The Government's SEND Reforms White Paper also commits to creating more accessible changing facilities as part of work to make mainstream school settings more inclusive for children with SEND.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:

“Inclusive sport is so important to me. When I was in school, I was left to referee netball and hockey matches for my non-disabled classmates. There was no understanding that I might be able to join in too, as a disabled person.

“It’s been a privilege to work with ParalympicsGB and fantastic campaigners like Ruby Bishop, and welcome them to Parliament, to ensure that every child has access to sport and PE in schools.

“The Government’s Inclusion 2028 programme has already kickstarted this work, to improve teacher training and resources for children with SEND in PE lessons. The Government’s SEND reforms also aim to create a more inclusive setting in mainstream schools, including improving accessible changing facilities, to ensure no child is left on the sidelines.”

David Clarke, ParalympicsGB CEO said:

“We know the positive impact participation in sport brings to health and happiness, which is why every child should be able to take part in PE and sport at school. ParalympicsGB’s Equal Play campaign has developed a clear set of recommendations to drive this positive change and make sure no child is left on the sidelines, and every teacher has the tools to support them.”

Kate Thornton-Bousfield, CEO of the Association for Physical Education (afPE) said:

“The Equal Play recommendations place inclusion where it belongs, at the heart of physical education. To achieve truly equitable access to high-quality PE, we must invest in the people who deliver it. By strengthening initial teacher education, providing sustained professional development and creating more inclusive pathways into the profession, we can equip the workforce with the confidence and expertise needed to ensure every child and young person can thrive through physical education. Inclusion is not an add-on; it is fundamental to high-quality PE for all.”