Special Needs Involvement

For gymnasts with special needs, the club tries to accommodate all, in one of our recreational classes and our coaches adapt activities to the individual’s needs. Discussions take place with parents to ensure any special needs participate would be able to cope with the class. We aim to create an inclusive environment ensuring that everyone partaking in a session enjoys gymnastics and are not isolated because of their ability.

The club has been asked to undertake various classes at Bettridge over the years. The club has also provided classes for CADCAF periodically, designed as an introduction to gymnastics. In the past the club has also delivered gymnastics classes within the school curriculum timetable at Alderman Knight School, Tewkesbury and Belmont School Cheltenham. We have also been one of the working partners with St. Roses school in Stroud that specialises in children with special needs. Rowan Gymnastics club has also worked with the William Morris School in Eastington to produce classes for adults with learning difficulties. January 2010 saw the club make a successful application to ‘Dragons Den’. This was a special group of disabled youngsters set up by GCC to vet applications from prospective providers of sporting activities for disabled impaired children. An award of £3000 enabled the club to offer after school classes to Milestones school which was accepted. It also enabled it to provide extra support to others in the mainstream classes enabling them to enjoy the sessions offered by the club.