Welland Disability FC

Too many times students with SEND are suspended without guidelines being followed, but most importantly, without their EHCP being followed, often leading to overwhelm and meltdowns that could have been avoided!
The goal should always be education being accessed, whether that be through mainstream schools, specialist schools, or homeschooling. What should always stay at the forefront of any students education should be *their* needs.

Just published: Guidance on the suspension and permanent exclusion of pupils from local-authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units, coming into force on 26 July 2026.

This guidance details the legal responsibilities for those who suspend (fixed period exclusion) and permanently exclude pupils from educational settings, including:

- headteachers
- local authorities
- governing bodies
- academy trusts
- independent review panel members
- independent review panel clerks
- special educational needs experts

It governs the exclusion of pupils from:

- local-authority-maintained schools
- academies and free schools
- pupil referral units

Read the Guidance: https://zurl.co/cJohs

⚽🌍 World Cup Day at Welland Football Club 🌍⚽

What an incredible day we had at Welland Juniors FC for their World Cup Day tournament! This was the first time Welland Disability FC attended the event, and we could not have felt more welcomed or included by everyone at the club. A huge thank you to Welland Juniors FC for creating such a positive and inclusive environment for all of our players, families, and coaches.

Our players had an amazing time from start to finish, showing fantastic teamwork, determination, and smiles all day long. Even with the rain coming and going throughout the day, it certainly did not stop anyone from playing football and enjoying every moment to the fullest! ☔⚽

One of the highlights of the day was the introduction of the brand new “Spirit of Football” shield for the disability teams. We are so proud to say the award went to Ollie, who has been with us for the past 3 seasons. Ollie’s commitment, attitude, and passion for the game truly represent everything the award stands for.

Not only has Ollie grown massively as a player, but he is also looking to complete his coaching badges so he can become a coach with us in the future, alongside becoming part of the adult disability provision we will be launching next season. We are incredibly proud of his journey so far and excited for what’s ahead! 👏🏆

We also handed out our “Players’ Player” and “Manager’s Player” trophies, recognising the fantastic efforts and attitudes shown throughout the season. Every player also received a medal for participating, because every single one of them played their part in making the day such a success. 🏅

A brilliant day full of football, fun, inclusion, and memories made — we cannot wait to be back next year! 🩷💙

We always welcome new players, so if you’d like to try our sessions out, please don’t hesitate to message the page or WhatsApp Abi on 07369267042 🩷

🏆⚽️ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦! ⚽️🏆

Huge congratulations to the Under 12s Welland Disability Football Team on becoming Division Winners in the West Midlands Inclusion League! 🎉

This incredible group of children with SEN and disabilities have shown what football is truly about — inclusion, teamwork, determination and enjoying the game together. Every player has worked so hard throughout the season, supporting one another and giving their all every single week. 💙🩷

We are so proud of this amazing achievement and the positive example this team sets for inclusive grassroots football. 🫶🏼👏🏼

A massive thank you to the coaches, families, volunteers, and supporters who make opportunities like this possible.

Champions on the pitch and an inspiration off it. 🏅⚽

Two of our league winning under 12s players attending Malvern Town FC yesterday ⚽️👏🏼

🩷⚽️ 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 ⚽️💙

We always forget to post after our Sunday trainings! So here’s to doing better about posting…

With the start of GCSE exams and a few players on holiday, our under 16s session was smaller today, and an accidental girls only session 👏🏼 We’d love to get more girls involved in our football sessions 😍 So if you know any girls who have any kind of SEND or long term health condition that would like to try us out, please tell them about us 🎤 Our lead coach, Abi, is neurodivergent so understands the difficulties first hand.

Today, we worked on improving our ball control, communication, long shots, assists, and match day tactics over both sessions. We only have one more training until our final league fixtures on 3rd May ⚽️
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At Welland Disability FC, we offer mixed ability sessions for players just starting out all the way up to seasoned players who can no longer cope with mainstream football.

⏰𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sunday mornings - 10-11 for under 12s & 11-12 for under 16s
📍𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: MSJ Astro, Malvern
🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️𝗪𝗵𝗼: Any youth with a long-term health condition and/or disability, or SEND needs. Including: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Mental Health conditions, physical disabilities, and many many more. Pan-Disability includes a huge amount of people!

Our offerings include:
🏟️𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘🏟️
We have two teams in the West Midlands Inclusion League: team 1 for ages 8-12 & team 2 for ages 12-16

☄️𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗦☄️
Comets is an FA initiative coaching recreational disability football for ages 5-11. Many players can start with Comets as we combine our training sessions. When/if they want to then take part in league games, we encourage that 1 million percent!

🚀𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦🚀
Rockets is Comets but for 12-16 year olds.

To enquire, DM our page or contact Abi on 07369267042 via WhatsApp or text. Or email [email protected]

neurodiverse youthinclusion WDFC

🧩🩷💙⚽️

💙 On World Autism Awareness Day, we celebrate neurodiversity and the different ways people experience the beautiful game.

🏆 Following the Lionesses’ triumph, Lucy Bronze shared how her experience of autism helps her perform at the highest level.

👇 Read more: https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/029b-1e520f9f2e52-5198bfdda1c2-1000--lucy-bronze-my-neurodiversity-helps-me-play-at-the-highest-/

Autism behaviours are not “problems”, they are forms of communication.

Understanding them helps us support, not judge. 💙
Let’s create a world where every child is understood, accepted, and supported.

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

We’re pleased to announce that plans for a new autism school in Malvern will move forward after the Government confirmed it will support the project.

The Department for Education has accepted our recommendation to continue with the Enterprise Academy, which is being developed in partnership with MacIntyre Academies. The school will provide much-needed specialist autism places for children and young people in Worcestershire.

Read more at: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/news/green-light-new-autism-school-malvern

⚽️🩷👏🏼

Today marks the final day of Neurodiversity Celebration week so we wanted to share this quote from Lucy Bronze 💬