AN outreach worker who helps young students with special educational needs has been recognised with a special award.

Commonweal School's physical disabilities outreach worker, Sam James, has been recognised for her role supporting students with special educational needs with a gong at the What's On 4 Me Junior Awards.

Sam, the physical disabilities outreach worker for the Advisory Team at the school in Okus was nominated for the Most Outstanding Special Educational Activity or Support Group award.

She attended a lavish awards ceremony at Drayton Manor Hotel on June 19 and despite the tough competition came away with the highly commended runner-up award after she was narrowly beaten to the top crown by a large autistic spectrum disorder support group, based in Essex.

Sam, who has cerebral palsy herself, has been working jointly with the PE department at Commonweal in devising an inclusive PE Curriculum, so students can gain more out of there PE lessons and realise their athletic goals.

"It is such a pleasure to see them enjoying themselves and as an instructor the reward of seeing them progress is priceless," she said.

Sam has taught boxercise to the students after receiving free donations of iPads and gloves from local companies.

She is also a qualified Zumba teacher who instructs all age groups and abilities, and is currently working with a local Swindon primary school, speech and language unit where the students have a mix of physical and learning disabilities.

Her future plans include working with Clubbercise, an exercise concept using glow sticks, which she hopes will help make it fully inclusive for students soon.

She is able to offer a series of Zumba, Clubbercise or Boxercise taster sessions for students with additional physical and coordination needs, who are based in schools in Swindon.

For more details, email sjames3@swindon.gov.uk.