Schools get ready for first School Games SEND Championships

Over 350 of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland's most talented young disabled athletes will take centre stage at the Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Championships on Friday 22^nd March at Loughborough University.

The Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport School Games SEND Championships is a new addition to the LRS Schools' County Finals 2019 Calendar. It is a multi-sport inclusive event, tailored specifically to be appropriate to Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD) and Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD) students from special and mainstream schools across the network.

As a culmination of local qualifying competitions, the Schools will be representing the 10 School Sport & Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs). The event ensures that disability sport provision is formalised and accessible across all of our ten SSPANs through the great work of our School Games Organisers.

The Championships aims to showcase the value of disability sport and provide an exciting and inspiring atmosphere for disabled young people to enjoy and excel within sport.

Sports Development Officer, Matty Crackell, said:

"The Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Championships have been designed to provide a positive, memorable sporting experience for young people with disabilities in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and will inspire our schools to continue developing their internal disability sport/physical activity offers."

"Ultimately, I hope that the Championships will showcase the value that sport and physical activity can have in helping disabled young people overcome barriers to achieve their potential."

After the Opening Ceremony, teams will head off for 3 hours of competitive action. An awards ceremony will then take place at each of the competition sites, as the Winners, 2^nd and 3^rd place will be announced. A 'Spirit of the Games' winner will also be announced, for the Team best representing the School Games values of Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork.

School Games action doesn't stop there for Loughborough. The University will again host the School Games Summer Championships on Friday 28^th June 2019 at Uppingham School Sports Centre.

The Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games, now in its eighth year, is part of the national 'School Games Programme'. It aims to keep competitive sport at the heart of schools and provide more young people with the opportunity to compete and achieve their personal best.

For live action and results, follow #LRSchoolGames or for more information visit www.lrsport.org/schoolgames