PUPILS and staff at a York school have got into wheelchairs to play basketball with a classmate who always uses one.

Clifton Green Primary School has gone the extra mile to ensure India Sargent feels fully included in the life of the school by organising a series of six wheelchair basketball sessions in its new sporting arena.

It set up the weekly basketball sessions for Year 1 pupils in partnership with the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association and the York wheelchair basketball team, York Sharks, who bring the wheelchairs along for the games.

India, six, from Clifton, who has spina bifida and has ambitions to compete one day in the Olympics, has been showing her friends how to use their wheelchairs and play the sport.

Head of sport Danny Palmer said: “India’s been able to be the experienced professional showing everybody how to do it.

“She has really loved it and is really excited when she comes into school on a Friday to play the sport. She hasn’t stopped talking about it.”

He said the school wanted to be as inclusive as possible, to ensure pupils never felt left out.

India’s father Lee Sargent: said: “India has not stopped talking about this! It’s inclusion at its best. Well done, Clifton Green.”

Her mother Rachel Haslam said: “India loved it. Apparently she showed all her friends how to work them!

“Once again, Clifton Green have gone above and beyond again to ensure their school is such a wonderfully inclusive setting.”