After having to close their indoor gym facility due to aging and damaged equipment, Evergreen School in Warwick started looking for new ways to provide physical activity opportunities for their pupils with special needs.

Supporting local children and young people aged 4 to 19, Evergreen School recognised many of their pupils faced barriers to being active because local environments and opportunities were not always designed to be inclusive and accessible.

The school found existing community spaces presented barriers to participation, such as a lack of accessible design features, appropriate facilities and environments that met the needs of all users.

This led to them exploring the possibility of creating an inclusive outdoor activity space that would enable not only their pupils but also disabled children and young people from the local community to be active, participate and enjoy movement in ways that work for them.

Having been supported by Think Active to apply for the Sport England Movement Fund, the school received £7,500 of funding which they were able to invest in creating a safe and secure space with a range of accessible outdoor gym equipment.

Laura Hyatt, headteacher at Evergreen School, said: “The equipment has had an amazing impact on improving the physical activity of our pupils.

“One of the benefits we’ve found is that in addition to using the equipment for activity needs, they also use it for emotional regulation, which we weren’t imagining. So when the pupils are in school, it’s used day in, day out.

“We’re also opening up use of it to people with special needs in the local area who can then access the equipment in a safe and secure environment where they can have their other additional needs met.

“I would encourage others to apply,” she added. “The team have been really helpful and supportive in helping the application to be successful.”