The UK welcomes the Paralympic Games

Approximately 5,000 schools will be marking the event with special activities - from assemblies to sports days.

Other highlights from around the UK include:

• Over 50 former Paralympians and 200 school children from Aylesbury gatherat Stoke Mandeville to raise flags and watch the live screening.
• More than 750 school children from the London Borough of Hackney take part in a three day Paralympic sports programme and a free community event showing the live Paralympic Handover moment in Hackney Town Hall Square.
• Aerial photo of the South African flag made up of pupils from the Wilson Stuart Special School in Birmingham. They will also learn about the Paralympic values and record messages of goodwill for their partner school in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.
• Over 150 students from across Essex’s School Sports Partnerships take part in a range of Paralympic Sports at Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre.
• North Tyneside Council launches their ‘Year of Sport’ and Talented Performers Grant Scheme.
• The new Kirkby Sports College, Knowsley, Liverpool, launches its new ethos based on the Olympic and Paralympic Values with a special assembly and sports participation events.
• Kent County Council launches their 2012 Games Learning Programme for all their schools in Folkestone.
• Fitzalan High School in Cardiff runs Athletics and Wheelchair Basketball taster sessions for both its own pupils and those from the nearby SEN Primary School.
• Oakgrove College, Londonderry hosting a special assembly by Angela Hendra MBE, DSNI Chairperson and former Paralympian and Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball and Boccia workshops.
• An Athletics session for disabled and non-disabled young people at Kings Park Athletics Track in Bournemouth and Sailing coaching and tuition for young people from each of the South West’s counties.
• Sports Partnership areas at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.
• Boccia, Tri-Golf, Track and Field and Tag Rugby taster sessions and flag, banner and cake making activities hosted for pupils at Stubbin Wood Special School in Bolsover, East Midlands.
• Dane Royd Junior and Infant School, Wakefield – Question of Sport game, cheerleading coaching led by the Wakefield Wildcats to create a celebration dance, pupils wearing the Paralympic and Olympic colours and creating pieces of art around the Paralympic and Olympic values.
• Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston, Scotland, stage a cheerleading display, a football tournament and a flag relay.
• Live sites in Hackney, Waltham Forest and Trafalgar Square screen the Paralympic Handover to London.

Read the full media release