By Chris Wearmouth 
Coventry Rugby is helping to make a big difference at Avon Park School, according to Assistant Head Teacher Edward Wright.
Nile Dacres has been delivering rugby sessions at the Rugby-based co-educational school for pupils with a broad spectrum of special educational needs which require specialist and tailored educational plans.
Dacres, along with George Oram, Max Trimble and Dan Lewis, headed to Rugby to help with the school’s annual sports festival, and with more rugby to come in the 2019/20 academic year Wright believes that the players’ contribution can make a difference across a range of areas.
“Sport is an important part of our curriculum and it has been brilliant to have Nile come in and deliver coaching sessions to the pupils,” he says. “The pupils get to engage with an adult who is not a teacher or parent and are inspired by working with a professional sportsperson. And rugby as a sport encourages positive development in areas such as teamwork and sportsmanship, as well as the added physical benefits of exercise and improving hand/eye co-ordination.
“All of the players were brilliant at the sports festival, encouraging the pupils and engaging positively with everyone who was there. We’re delighted to be working with Coventry Rugby in the next academic year as well and can’t wait to get the sessions started in September!”
For Dacres the experience of working with Avon Park has helped develop a range of his own skills.
“I’ve enjoyed the experience and am glad that it is continuing into the new season,” he says. “The nature of the pupils’ needs means that I have to be able to adapt my coaching and communication styles really quickly and tailor what I’m doing with each individual, while also making sure that the whole group gets something out of the session.
“It’s great to know from Ed and his team that they have been getting a lot out of these sessions, because I have been learning a lot as well!”
For more information about the multi-faceted work done by Avon Park head to witherslackgroup.co.uk/avon-park-school
Coventry Rugby is committed to using rugby to improve the lives of the whole community in the city of Coventry and the surrounding area. Contact Hal Sparke, Coventry Rugby Foundation Manager, to find out more by emailing hsparke@coventryrugby.co.uk
