The government has confirmed the continuation of the Inclusion 2028 grant programme, reinforcing its commitment to creating more inclusive opportunities in PE, school sport and physical activity for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Led by Youth Sport Trust alongside a consortium of partners, Inclusion 2028 supports schools across England to embed inclusive practice through sport, play and physical education. The programme aims to ensure that every young person, regardless of ability or additional need, can access meaningful opportunities to participate, lead and thrive.
The extension of the programme comes amid growing calls for greater inclusivity in school sport. Research highlighted through ParalympicsGB’s Equal Play campaign found that just 25 per cent of young people with SEND regularly participate in PE and school sport. Meanwhile, one in three disabled children take part in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day during term time, compared with 21 per cent of non-disabled children.
Despite this, demand for support remains high. According to the programme, 90 per cent of parents of disabled children say physical activity is important to their child’s wellbeing, yet fewer than half feel they receive enough support to help their child stay active.
Embedding inclusive practice
Inclusion 2028 aims to address these barriers by helping schools create accessible and inspiring environments for PE, sport and physical activity. The programme focuses on sustainable, long-term change through collaboration with schools, delivery partners and young people themselves.
Schools participating in the programme can access a range of support measures, including targeted interventions, tailored CPD opportunities, inclusive sports festivals and practical resources designed to adapt activities to meet the needs of all learners.
The programme also places a strong emphasis on youth leadership, creating opportunities for pupils both with and without SEND to lead inclusive activities and shape school sport provision.
A key part of the programme is the network of Lead Inclusion Schools operating across England. These schools act as local champions for inclusive practice, providing guidance, training and examples of best practice to help other schools build confidence and capability in inclusive PE and sport.
The network is made up of 54 schools – spanning primary, secondary, and specialist settings – and empowers educators to create environments where every young person can thrive. These schools support practitioners to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to plan and deliver high-quality inclusive physical education, school sport and physical activity opportunities for all students.
Benefits beyond physical activity
Supporters of the programme say the benefits extend well beyond increased participation in sport.
For pupils with SEND, schools report improvements in confidence, self-esteem, wellbeing and social integration, alongside increased active minutes that contribute to better physical and mental health.
For teachers and schools, the programme provides access to free e-learning, local CPD and practical tools that help staff adapt activities and build more inclusive environments. Schools involved in the initiative have also reported wider whole-school benefits, including improved behaviour, stronger feelings of belonging and positive impacts on attainment.
Building on proven success
Inclusion 2028 builds on the achievements of the previous Inclusion 2024 programme, which delivered large-scale engagement across schools nationwide.
According to programme figures, almost 6,800 school staff received CPD training through Lead Inclusion Schools, while 837 inclusive festivals reached more than 1,500 schools and engaged over 15,800 pupils, 86 per cent of whom were pupils with SEND.
More than 30,000 pupils with SEND attended inclusive events, while over 2,400 young leaders were trained to deliver inclusive activities, including many young people with SEND themselves.
The programme also supported specialist training initiatives, including water safety training delivered by Swim England to improve confidence in supporting pupils with SEND during water-based activities.
Schools involved in the programme reported increases in the number of pupils with SEND achieving recommended daily activity levels, alongside greater enjoyment, engagement and confidence in PE.
A commitment to equal access
Ali Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, welcomed the continuation of the funding. She said: “This reinforces a commitment to inclusive opportunities in PE and the call from the British Paralympic Association for ‘equal play’ for every child.
“Together with our Inclusion 2028 consortium partners and Youth Sport Trust Lead Inclusion Network, we have seen the impact this programme has made since 2017, and this sustained investment helps educators transform curricular and extra-curricular opportunities so all children can experience the life-changing benefits of PE, sport and play.”
As schools continue to place greater emphasis on inclusion, wellbeing and pupil engagement, the continuation of Inclusion 2028 signals a broader recognition of the role sport and physical activity can play in supporting both educational outcomes and wider personal development for all learners.
