Physical Education
Our Physical Education (PE) Specialist Curriculum is written around our core guiding principles for inclusion. There are many aspects of PE in school that lead to withdrawal from it for autistic individuals, from the aspects of changing for PE through to the social engagement.
Physical Education (PE) in an autism-specific school is not just about sport—it is a vital part of supporting communication, regulation, social understanding, and independence. Many autistic pupils experience differences in sensory processing, motor coordination, and social interaction, making PE a key opportunity for holistic development.
Our Key Aims for PE at The Windmill School
Sensory Regulation & Emotional Wellbeing
PE provides structured opportunities for pupils to:
- Regulate sensory input (e.g. through movement, pressure, balance)
- Reduce anxiety and dysregulation
- Develop self-calming strategies
Activities are carefully planned to meet individual sensory profiles (e.g. calming vs alerting input).
We acknowledge the range of elements that make PE an overwhelmingly anxiety provoking subject and therefore offer a therapeutic curriculum offer where individual sensitivities are addressed.
Our aim is to deliver high quality appropriate and accessible PE to our students through a set of guiding principles to ensure PE is a positive experience that enhances skills but also well being. Dance, movement, swimming and yoga are all delivered as part of our framework for PE.
Guiding principles for PE
- A sensory approach using a program of interoception
- Communication that is visual and verbal
- Structure to provide anchors and routines
- Planning ahead, visual elements and zoning of spaces, groupings
- Practical activities delivered 1:1 as well as in a group
- Exploration of synchrony and interaction in movement and dance (Laban theory)
Please take some time to look at our PE handbook written by Eleanor Woods PE lead co-ordinator and curriculum lead.
pe handbook ew summer 2026.pdf
Link with Saracens Sports Foundation.
Source: Powerhouse Games Saracens
Powerhouse Games is a multi- sports team day event playing inclusive and adapted sports. All the activities are designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not – and in doing so are wonderfully inclusive. The objective of a PowerHouse Games is to play sport together in a way that encourages all; from schools, universities, sports clubs, corporations and the local community to engage in inclusive sport.
The Windmill school participated in the first Saracens Powerhouse Games in 2025 and are set to participate this year in 2026.
See the blog post here: https://www.power2inspire.org.uk/celebrating-the-first-powerhousegames-with-the-saracens-foundation/
The event is more than just playing games: we challenge our assumptions about each other, offer opportunities to interact with other members of the community we do not usually meet; teach us about ourselves and others and lift the spirits of all that participate.