Table tennis growing at Maesgwym School

Table Tennis Wales is delighted to have been able to support Aberdare’s Maesgwyn Special School with a kit bag which has proved a valuable asset to the school.

Our Regional Officer for Central South, Callum Evans, recently visited Maesgwyn to deliver a taster day for the children, giving them advice and teaching them different shots.

Off the back of this, a kit bag including a range of brilliant equipment such as bats, balls, nets, cups, cones, and markers was given to the school for them to continue using in sessions.

The capacity to offer table tennis to kids has been particularly useful around the Measgwyn’s well-established wellbeing and behaviour support work. The school has a dedicated team to foster relationships with pupils, supporting those with ADHD, ASD and additional learning needs on a daily basis and ensuring they’re regulated and ready to learn.

“The addition of the Table tennis equipment from Table Tennis Wales has been a fantastic plus,” Designated Unison & Support Staff Representative, Ben Hunt, told us.

“The wellbeing team runs interventions individually for pupils and for small groups of pupils. Being able to offer the pupils a comfortable and safe environment to talk and share things, by using the equipment that was provided, it becomes an enjoyable and fun environment and gives them the opportunity to have some fun as well as take part in new things they may not have experienced before.”

The kit bag equipment is also used as incentive for the pupils, with sessions delivered as a reward for good behaviour.

“The engagement has been brilliant,” Ben continued. “So many pupils are keen and excited to try the sport for the first time, and excited to keep learning new things!”

The school now hopes to start a lunchtime club for the kids who are keen to continue playing.

“Table tennis is a sport for all,” Callum Evans added, “and it was great to see the children of Maesgwyn learning new skills, engaging with each other and trying a new sport for the very first time!”