AI am Jon Hayes, Volunteer Chair of Special Olympics Wales, dedicated to creating inclusive sporting opportunities for individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities. Our year-round sports programmes are specifically designed to support SEND individuals, providing them with structured, accessible, and enjoyable opportunities to participate in sports and physical activities. Our programmes focus on skill development, confidence-building, and social inclusion, ensuring that every athlete-regardless of ability-can engage in sport in a way that suits their individual needs. By working closely with schools, coaches, and families, we create tailored sporting experiences that foster independence and promote lifelong participation in physical activity. A key initiative is the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP), a unique programme specifically designed for athletes of all ages with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) or complex needs. MATP provides a personalised and adaptable approach to physical activity, focusing on fundamental movement skills, motor development, and sensory engagement. The programme enables athletes to develop their physical abilities at their own pace, ensuring that every participant can experience success and celebrate their progress. I am keen to connect with professionals in the SEND sector to collaborate on inclusive initiatives, share best practices, and explore innovative ways to break down barriers to participation in sport. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive and accessible sporting landscape in Wales and beyond!

At Powertutors, we believe that every student deserves the right support to thrive and be ambitious. That’s why we provide specialist tutoring for children and young people with SEND, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and achieve their potential. Our tutors ensure that learning is tailored to each student's unique needs. With flexible, one-to-one support, we create a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where every learner can succeed. Together, we’re making education achievable for all—one student at a time.

Everyone should be able to feel OK at school. But we know this isn’t the case for many autistic pupils. That’s why Ambitious about Autism, in partnership with Zurich and the Z Zurich Foundation, created the Autistic and OK programme. The programme is designed to empower autistic pupils to take control of their mental health and wellbeing, understand themselves better, and feel OK . We developed our Autistic and OK toolkit to run this innovative peer-led programme. This free resource is available for every UK secondary school and can be downloaded from our website.   We're excited to be part of the SEND Network connecting with teachers and SEND professionals to bring the benefits of the Autistic and OK programme to as many autistic pupils as possible!