Sporting chance for Kent youngsters

KENT youngsters with Special Education Needs (SEN) have been given a greater chance to develop their sporting skills thanks to a scheme supported by the children’s charity of rugby.

Under the Kent Rugby Wooden Spoon programme, pupils from schools across the county have been enjoying bespoke sessions with former RFU community rugby coach Darren Reeves.

Darren, who now serves as a freelance rugby coach, is involved in delivering Kent’s annual SEN Tag Rugby Festival and funding from Wooden Spoon meant that he was able to share his expertise with 15 schools.

As well as picking up a host of new skills, all of those taking part were subsequently invited to attend a localised festival of rugby featuring warm-up games, training sessions and matches.

Leigh-Anne Cook, a teacher at The Malling School, said: “The Tydeman Centre is keen to develop links with outside agencies to help us continue to develop our students’ confidence through sport.

“The tag rugby training sessions have given them a chance to experience a sport that they would not normally have the confidence to join in with. As a result, they have started to grow in confidence.”

To discover more about Wooden Spoon’s work with schools, visit our Get involved section.