Free Resources for Schools

Cerebral Palsy School Resource

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and this pages offers free, ready-to-use resources for schools to help pupils understand what Cerebral Palsy is, how it affects people who have it and to start discussions around disability and inclusion.

The resources below are designed to support assemblies, PSHE lessons or classroom discussions in a clear and age-appropriate way.

Short CP Awareness Video for Pupils

Length: 6-7 minutes
Suitable for: Primary and lower secondary pupils
Format: Pre-recorded video with captions

Description: This short video is delivered by Aideen Blackborough – I have Cerebral Palsy and a speech impairment. In the video, I explain what Cerebral Palsy is and how it occurs. The video explains how CP affects people and emphasises how it impacts everyone differently. The video highlights the barriers which disabled people can face and how pupils can help to remove barriers and make their environments more inclusive for people with CP.

The video is designed to be used flexibly – either as a standalone assembly, PSHE session or part of a wider discussion around disability and inclusion.

Key Messages Covered:

Pupils will learn that:

• Cerebral Palsy is something which occurs at birth/early childhood and they live with it for life
• CP affects movement and co-ordination but not intelligence
• Disabled people are often limited more by the world around them than their bodies
• Small changes and thoughtful behaviour can make a big difference

The emphasis is on understanding, respect and inclusion – not pity.

Suggested Discussion Questions by Key Stage

Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7)

Focus: noticing difference, kindness, helping without assumptions

• How might you know if someone has Cerebral Palsy?
• What might help someone who moves, speaks or learns in a different way?
• How can we be kind and include everyone when we play and work together?

Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11)

Focus: challenging assumptions and noticing barriers

• Do you think everyone with Cerebral Palsy uses a wheelchair? Why or why not?
• Why do you think people sometimes make assumptions about disabled people?
• How do you think it might feel to experience barriers that others don’t notice?
• What small changes could we make in school to make it more inclusive?

Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14)

Focus: attitudes, systems and responsibility

• What assumptions are often made about disabled people and where do they come from?
• What barriers exist for disabled people in our school and wider community?
• Who is responsible for removing those barriers – individuals, schools or society?
• How have your own attitudes or understanding changed?

About the Speaker

The video is presented by Aideen Blackborough, a disability and accessibility trainer and speaker with lived experience of Cerebral Palsy.

Aideen works with schools, organisations and communities across the UK to improve understanding of disability, remove everyday barriers and embed inclusion in meaningful, practical ways.

Further Teaching Resources

Further Support

If your school would like to explore disability and inclusion in more depth, Aideen also delivers:

• Primary and secondary school assemblies (including SEND settings)
• Classroom and small-group sessions
• Staff disability and inclusion workshops
• Accessibility Audits

These are available to book throughout the academic year.