PE lessons with that little bit Xtra – pupils enjoy pod-sized coaching

A BERKSHIRE-based sports company has worked throughout lockdown to ensure that vulnerable children across the county have had access to PE lessons – and no, it doesn’t involve Joe Wicks.

Since the start of the lockdown at the end of March, Sports Xtra has been working in partner schools across Berkshire to support the keyworker and vulnerable children.

At the beginning, some coaches were running sessions for very small groups, sometimes between one to four children. and continued to work tirelessly so all these children still had their weekly PE sessions.

As the lockdown has eased, the staff have had to now adapt to the changes in schools, and are now working with the pods or bubbles of children.

“In school things have been quiet,” said Thatcham-based Spurcroft School headteacher Kate Flower few.

“We are still being supported by the brilliant staff at Sports Xtra

“Having PE lessons with children from Nursery to year six in one group has become a bit of a highlight formany of us.

“Seeing children of different ages mix and enjoy being with each other has been great, and I am sure that for families who have had different aged children at home, you are seeing times when they co-operate and learn together too.”

The company is pleased with the service it has been able to operate during lockdown.

Sport Xtra team member PhilWest said: “We made the decision not to take any government help, not furlough any staff, as we wanted to keep all of our staff in gainful employment as best as we could. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsor, Rutherford Cancer Centre in Shinfield.

“Rutherford has been working with us since 2017 to provide funding for after school clubs across a select few schools in our region.

“Despite us not being able to offer a traditional after school programme during the lockdown. It has continued to support us, and we have utilised the funding to run group after school, or lunch sessions for the KeyWorker families. These are offered to the children at a fraction of the price compared to the usual cost of a club.

“Rutherford has regularly checked in with me over the last three months and I am delighted we are extending our partnership with Rutherford going forward. If you are a school looking for some funded clubs in this area. please get in contact and I will happily talk about funding options for your school.”