Children and young people with Special Educational Needs in Portsmouth now have access to more dedicated activity sessions at Mountbatten Leisure Centre after BH Live and Cliffdale Primary Academy completed a 12-month partnership. Announced on 6 July 2026, the collaboration has introduced SEN-specific slots at the Clip N’ Climb facility, the MountAirXL giant inflatable, and the AquaDash pool obstacle course.
Staff across BH Live Active centres received specialist training from Cliffdale Primary Academy covering autism awareness, communication approaches, sensory needs, and positive behaviour support. Communication cards, visual prompts, and guides explaining what to expect have also been embedded. One family member who attended an SEN MountAirXL session described it as the most inclusive and well-considered they had experienced across multiple venues during the Easter holidays. “I was particularly impressed to see staff using visual signs to support non-verbal communication, and the availability of sensory toys, which my daughter really enjoyed and kept returning to throughout the session,” they said.
BH Live runs Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Pyramids, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre, Portsmouth Tennis Centre, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, and Charter Community Sports Centre on behalf of Portsmouth City Council. The partnership grew from a council SEND Local Offer Live event in Cosham where families and teachers highlighted barriers including limited SEN understanding, sensory overload, and a lack of tailored sessions. Taster sessions now support gradual engagement, easing the way for children who might otherwise struggle to access leisure activities.
Cliffdale Primary Academy, a Portsmouth school for pupils with additional needs, worked alongside BH Live operational teams to shape the changes. Mountbatten Leisure Centre, the city’s flagship venue in Hilsea, also completed a £750K gym upgrade just days before this announcement, reopening its fitness facilities on 29 June 2026.
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