'Get Into It' helps Tyler to belt up
The ‘Get Into It’ Scheme has helped a young Whitnash boy get started on the road to becoming a judo master.
Seven year old Tyler Vallis-Meades, a pupil of Briar Hill Infant School, has attended classes at St Joseph’s Church Hall every week for over six months and has rapidly risen to the brink of his orange belt.
‘Get Into It’ is a DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) scheme, supported by the Training and Development Agency (TDA) which makes funds available via Warwickshire County Council to schools to enable them to help less advantaged children to participate in activities.
Teaching the art of discipline and respect, as well as self-defence and basic blocks, kicks and blows, the judo classes have had an immense effect on the youngster both in and out of school.
Head teacher, Gillian Makin, says: "We have been absolutely delighted to be part of the ‘Get into It’ project. Quite a number of children at the school have benefited from the varied activities on offer. Tyler has done really well and we are very pleased he has made so much progress in the activity he has chosen. The Project has been important in supporting families to access activities that they would not otherwise have opportunity to attend."
‘Get Into It’ co-ordinator, Joanna Bessant, agrees. "This is what ‘Get into It’ is all about. It’s about encouraging children to participate in other activities and letting parents know that finance need not be an obstacle. The benefits all round are immense.
In Tyler’s case, not only is he enjoying the judo but his concentration in class and achievement have received a massive boost and that is partly down to the increased self-esteem he has received from his judo classes."
Mother Karen, who works voluntarily at the school, accompanies Tyler to his classes and is about to start her own classes in karate. She said: "I am so proud of what Tyler is achieving in his judo and his schoolwork. His confidence has come on no end and he has become a well-behaved lad who is coming on a bundle in everything he does at the moment. He’s been an inspiration to me."