Including Visually Impaired Students in Physical Education Lessons: A Case Study of Teacher and Pupil Experiences

Overview & Synopsis

Following recent education policy and curriculum changes in England, the notion of inclusion of children with special educational needs in physical education has increasingly become a topic of research interest and concern. It was the aim of this study to explore personal experiences and perspectives of inclusion in physical education. To this end this study used a series of interviews and observations with a visually impaired (blind) pupil, a physical education teacher and a learning support assistant at a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. The findings highlighted four significant areas of impact: the role of teacher training and development; the role of learning support assistants; resources; and the limitations of the National Curriculum in Physical Education as a framework for inclusion. Recommendations on how to address these issues in order to improve the standards of inclusion for visually impaired pupils in physical education are made.