Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of movement and physical activity. Yet for many children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), barriers can make participation more challenging.
Active Pathways is a new Bedford Borough based project that aims to change this.
Funded by Be Active via Sport England through its Place Based Universal Offer, Active Pathways will bring together families, professionals and organisations to create a more inclusive environment where everyone can lead an active and healthy life.
Through training, shared learning, engagement activities and partnership working, the project will help build knowledge, confidence and skills across Bedford Borough, ensuring that physical activity opportunities are welcoming, accessible and meaningful for people with SEND.
What is Active Pathways?
Active Pathways is a place-based project designed to create lasting improvements in how physical activity is understood, delivered and experienced by people with SEND and their families.
The project recognises that meaningful change happens when communities, organisations and services work together. By connecting partners across health, education, leisure, community and voluntary sectors, Active Pathways will help create a stronger system of support that makes being active easier and more accessible for everyone.
Why this matters
Physical activity can improve physical health, mental wellbeing, confidence, social connections and quality of life.
Research shows that positive experiences of movement help people develop a stronger relationship with physical activity, making them more likely to stay active throughout their lives. Physical literacy is our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life, and positive experiences can have lasting benefits.
Locally, stakeholders have identified challenges around accessing inclusive physical activity opportunities reinforcing the need for greater awareness, support and inclusive practice.
Our vision
We want Bedford Borough to be a place where:
- children, young people and adults with SEND can access enjoyable and meaningful physical activity opportunities
- families feel supported and informed
- professionals have the confidence and skills to deliver inclusive activities
- organisations work together to remove barriers
- physical activity becomes a natural part of everyday life for everyone
What will happen?
Our Project Coordinator will work with local partners to:
- understand local needs and opportunities
- deliver training and professional development workshops
- organise engagement events and networking opportunities
- develop practical resources for families and professionals
- support organisations to improve inclusive practice
- encourage collaboration across sectors and services
The project will help build a sustainable network of organisations and individuals committed to improving opportunities for people with SEND across Bedford Borough.
Supporting families and professionals
Active Pathways has been designed to support two key groups.
Families
Supporting families of children, young people and adults with SEND by providing information, resources and increased access to inclusive opportunities.
Professionals
Helping professionals working with SEND communities to build their awareness, understanding, confidence and practical skills to create more inclusive physical activity experiences.
The Importance of physical literacy
At the heart of Active Pathways is the concept of physical literacy.
Physical literacy is more than sport or exercise. It is the relationship each person has with movement and physical activity throughout their life. It reflects how people move, connect, think and feel when taking part in activity. Positive and meaningful experiences help build confidence, enjoyment and long-term participation.
By promoting physical literacy, Active Pathways aims to create experiences that are enjoyable, inclusive and tailored to individual needs, helping people develop a positive connection with movement for life.
Creating lasting change
This project is not about delivering a short-term programme.
Active Pathways aims to create long-term system change by strengthening collaboration between organisations, improving workforce skills and empowering families and communities. The knowledge, resources and partnerships developed through the project will continue to benefit Bedford Borough residents long after the project has been delivered.
Get involved
Whether you are a parent, carer, professional, community organisation, school, health partner or leisure provider, there is a role for you in helping create a more inclusive and active Bedford Borough.
Together, we can break down barriers, build confidence and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits of movement and physical activity.
Join us as we create new Active Pathways for people, families and communities across Bedford Borough.
Our first training course
Bedfordshire Physical Education Trailblazers Network
As part of our commitment to creating more inclusive, high-quality physical activity opportunities, Active Pathways is proud to support the Bedfordshire Physical Education Trailblazers Network.
This fully funded professional learning network has been designed to help schools prepare for upcoming national curriculum changes while placing inclusion, physical literacy and pupil engagement at the heart of Physical Education.
Led by Will Swaithes and Liz Durden-Myers, two of the national curriculum drafters, the network will support teachers and school leaders to understand the direction of travel for Physical Education and develop practical approaches that meet the needs of all learners, particularly SEND pupils and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Participants will join a community of practice that will:
- explore the rationale behind the forthcoming curriculum reforms
- understand how physical literacy can inform curriculum design and delivery
- ensure inclusion is central to curriculum planning and decision making
- develop approaches to planning, delivery and assessment that support all learners
- review enrichment opportunities to ensure they are accessible, meaningful and relevant for pupils
The programme consists of a half-day workshop, a one-hour online follow-up session and opportunities to share learning and pilot ideas with other schools across Bedfordshire.
Who is it for?
The network is aimed at:
- Secondary Heads of PE Department
- Primary PE Leaders
- PE teachers seeking to strengthen their understanding of physical literacy, inclusion and curriculum development
Workshop details
Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026
Time: 8.30am to 12.30pm (lunch included)
Venue: Mowsbury Golf Club, Cleat Hill, Bedford, MK41 8BJ
Book your place
Use the button to book as a guest.
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Book onto the Bedfordshire Physical Education Trailblazers Network
Alternatively, login to / register for a Council Services account to book your place.
If you have any questions please email Andrew Harrington Andrew.Harrington@bedford.gov.uk