The Children's Heart Federation (CHF) launches Let's Get Moving for Heart Children's Health: a call to action to include children with congenital heart disease in PE at school and to increase their access to sport in the community, at its House of Common's reception today (14 May) in the presence of Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport and one hundred delegates, including representatives of nine leading sports development organisations. The event, which takes place during Children's Heart Week (9-17 May), is designed to highlight the right of children and young people with congenital heart disease (CoHD) to sporting opportunities, in order to tackle the exclusion of pupils with CoHD from PE.

"We've heard from parents about unacceptable situations at school, in which children are being made to sit and play board games or just watch the other children during PE," declares CHF Chief Executive Anne Keatley-Clarke. "Heart children have a right to inclusion in sports and this campaign is about turning that right into a reality."

While standard medical advice is that children with CoHD naturally 'self-limit' and will moderate their levels of activity within their physical capabilities, some schools are so risk averse that children are very restricted, and sometimes even excluded from the playground. This can have negative effects on their current and long-term mental and physical health.

"We want to work with teachers to build their confidence around including children with CoHD," asserts Anne Keatley-Clarke. "We will be pressing for the inclusion of sports in children's Individual Education Plans and underpinning that drive with more information and training."

CHF has the support of the Youth Sport Trust, whose lead on inclusion issues, Mark Botterill is a speaker at the reception, reminding delegates of the Government's commitment to ensuring that by 2011 all 5-16 year olds can access at least 5 hours of PE and sport every week through at least 2 hours high quality PE in the curriculum and a further 3 hours of sport beyond the school day delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.

Mark Botterill observes, "The starting point for many young disabled people is through high quality PE. Although we know that more mainstream schools are now including these young people, this still remains an area for further improvement."

Delegates at the House of Commons reception represent major groups that CHF is targeting to involve in the campaign, including cardiac surgeons and cardiologists who provide information about children's individual capabilities, parents and young people who contribute qualitative evidence about the provision of sports and sports development organisations, including several that specialise in disability sport.

"This is multi-faceted issue," explains Anne Keatley-Clarke,"so we're taking a team approach. We're encouraging as many people as possible who have an interest in CoHD and sport to sign up for the Let's Get Moving Campaign on the CHF website."

Notes

1. We can arrange interviews with parents of children who have been excluded from sport.

2. Any journalist with an interest in the issues surrounding congenital heart disease and sport is invited to the House of Commons Reception on Thursday 14 May, 4-6pm in the Terrace Pavilion.

3. The Children`s Heart Federation (CHF) is an umbrella body with 22 member organisations dedicated to helping children with congenital or acquired heart disease and their families in the UK and Ireland. CHF provides information and support through its freephone helpline 0808 808 5000, open Monday to Friday and its website http://www.chfed.org.uk

4. Copy of the 'Let's Get Moving' campaign document attached as .pdf with this email.

5. Congenital heart conditions are the most common birth defect in the UK. Approximately 5000 babies in the UK are born with a heart condition each year, with a further 1000 developing a serious heart problem after birth.

6. The Survey of Experiences of Sport and Exercise for Children and Young People aged up to 19 with Congenital Heart Disease was conducted by CHF in March and April 2009 through a 16-question questionnaire to parents of heart children. Findings are based on 110 responses.

7. Children's Heart Week runs from 9-17 May 2009. It will culminate with CHF's National Sports Fun Day at Weston Park, Shifnal, West Midlands from 11am to 3.30pm on Saturday 16 May. (See http://www.weston-park.com/events/childrens-charity-sports-day and http://www.chfed.org.uk/news/sports_survey/family_sports_day)

8. Text of Mark Botterill's presentation at the House of Commons reception reproduced below:

Text of presentation by Mark Botterill, Inclusion Lead at the Youth Sport Trust 's at the CHF House of Commons Reception, Thursday 14 May

-- Thank you for the opportunity to provide an insight into some of the national work of Youth Sport Trust and its wider partners including schools, Local Authorities, other national charities and associations and Governing Bodies of Sport.

-- As you may be aware the Government is commitment to ensure that by 2011 all 5-16 year olds can access at least 5 hours of PE and sport every week:

- at least 2 hours high quality PE in the curriculum
- a further 3 hours sport beyond the school day delivered by a range of school, community and club providers

-- This has also been extended to ensure that all 16-19 year olds have access to 3 hours of sport

-- We know that for some young disabled people this offer will ensure that they can further achieve additional qualifications in PE and sport. For many it may contribute to them developing an active lifestyle, and for a select few talented athletes they will be able progress further as elite athletes. Their participation at whatever level can provide opportunities to develop their mobility, self-confidence, and a sense of team or belonging, but also communication, planning skills and behaviour.

-- The starting point for many young disabled people is through high quality PE. Over the last few years the number of young disabled people in special schools accessing PE has increased by 11% to 93.5%. Although we know that more mainstream schools are now including young disabled people this still remains an area for further improvement. With over 50 special schools now being either Sport or Physical and Sensory specialist schools there is now a network of schools innovating and re-defining what is high quality PE. This has included targeting and supporting other special and mainstream schools to adjust and include more young disabled people in PE.

-- Whilst there has been an increase in 'provision' the Youth Sport Trust in conjunction with Association for Physical Education and other agencies such as the English Federation of Disability Sport and sportscoach UK has continued to develop support for teachers, coaches and those supporting young disabled people to also increase the quality of this offer. An inclusion web-site, CPD training on adapted games and inclusion, along with a range of resources and DVD's such as Don't forget me now has supported teachers, learning support assistants and coaches delivering in schools and the community to ensure young disabled people are not just included but are also challenged to meet their potential.

-- Engaging and motivating young disabled people in PE is only part of the equation. Ensuring young disabled people also have access to a wider sporting experience is also vital. Every school is now part of the 450 School Sport Partnerships of which 200 school sport co-ordinators are focused on young disabled people. Although not exhaustive there are three main foci:

- Over the last 12 months 250 multi-sport disability clubs have been developed to support young disabled people access sport outside of the school PE curriculum. This will be extended to 450 by 2010.

- Through the network of competition managers over 2000 young disabled people per week are accessing festivals. This includes those being delivered as part of the national schools sport week and for those with talent access to the UK School Games.

- By establishing a national network of 450 ability identification days held 3 times a year teachers are better able to assess young disabled people's abilities signposting up to 10,000 young disabled people into participation and sporting opportunities in the community. These wider opportunities being developed through Sport England and a range of agencies including County Sport Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and disability sport agencies.

-- Sport is not just about participation. Through the national Step into Sport programme and young officiating programme nearly 12% of all young disabled people have an opportunity to be engaged in leadership or officiating. 4000 young disabled people achieved their Sports Leaders qualification last year, and this year 9 regional disability leadership hubs are to be developed across the country to model good practice.

- At the heart of all of this development work is the young disabled person themselves. Through the young ambassador programme young disabled people are empowered, alongside their non-disabled peers, to advocate the power of PE and sport using the Olympic and Paralympic values. Two of these: Equality and Inspiration are key to ensuring more young disabled people can access PE and sporting opportunities in the future.

-- With the current investment into PE and sport and with London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 this presents a unique opportunity not just to improve access and participation but to achieve real sustainable and system wide reform.

Source
Children's Heart Federation