Festival of gymnastics at special school proves a huge success

Palmerston School, a school for children with special educational needs in Liverpool, took part in two days of coaching and a one-day gymnastics festival, with special guest Beth Tweddle MBE providing expert tips along the way.

We were delighted to be able to organise the event, giving children who hadn’t previously had the opportunity to take part in gymnastics the chance to enjoy what the sport has to offer.

British Gymnastics Women’s Artistic coach and disability gymnastics expert Stephen Morris delivered sessions to the entire school and Palmerston School PE teacher Mike Halligan was thrilled that we had taken the festival to their school: “The whole package of 3 days was a great way for us to start the new school year.

“It helped us look at the new intake of pupils and see what they were responding to and coping with. The students benefitted from the experience and it has given the staff plenty of ideas to use in PE and sports activities moving forward.”

The two days of coaching were followed by a gymnastics festival day where all of the children took part in activities including balancing, throwing, catching and jumping. During the day, Olympic medallist Beth Tweddle MBE made a surprise appearance, helping to coach the children before presenting certificates to all that took part.

Patrick Bonner, British Gymnastics Foundation Manager, said: “From the moment each group came into the gymnastics hall, the excitement levels were clear to see.

“Whilst many of the children have difficulties with concentration, communication and learning difficulties, once the children got engaged in the gymnastics activity, they really challenged themselves to do their best and seemed to concentrate and enjoy the gymnastics activity; so much so, that they didn’t want the session to finish.

“The children’s enthusiasm appeared to grow as each session progressed and the children took great delight in showing everyone what they had learned during their three days of gymnastics as we invited each child to work in pairs to do a mini gymnastics display at the end of each session. All the pupils were so supportive of each other and when they applauded, it was fantastic to see the children who were performing brimming with smiles!”

The British Gymnastics Foundation is also delighted to announce that we will be visiting Abbots Lea School in Liverpool later this month to run the same programme, hoping to make a big difference to the lives of children in that school too.