Hinckley and Reading have been chosen as the first two areas for a pilot scheme which is set to see didi rugby provide an expanded offering to schools.
Starting in September, educational settings including nurseries and pre-schools will be able to book a didi sports session.
This will see classes receive a varied sports programme throughout each term which will include sports like: rugby, cricket, basketball and dodgeball.
didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen said she had listened to numerous requests from schools for this sort of programme.
School or nursery
“The success of didi rugby over the past two years has put us in a strong position to develop didi sports sessions,” she said.
“My area of Hinckley and the amazing team in Reading are very excited to start delivering this.
“Every school or nursery which invites us in can be confident they will be getting a very high quality delivery from a didi sports class because of the reputation we have built up with didi rugby.
“That business has been built up around rugby because of my background as an international playing for England. But I am a qualified PE teacher, I have been head of sport at a high school and have also been in a sports co-ordinator role so a multi-skilled offering has always been on the radar.
“Schools and nurseries have told us that they like to mix their activities.” Vicky Macqueen
“Schools and nurseries have told us that they like to mix their activities so it fits in well with what we are going to pilot – and hopefully roll out across the UK over time.
“Our classes will encourage pace, variety and challenge throughout. Children will add to their physical literacy and we are always committed to promoting a multi-skilled approach to learning whatever sport we offer.”
Craig Hunter, co-owner of didi rugby Reading, said: “We are really excited to be working with Vicky to start offering didi sports across the Reading area as soon as it is safe to do so from September.
“As schools, including after schools clubs and leisure centres start to get going again after lockdown, it is important that the younger children in the 18 moths to 6-years-old age range are not forgotten.”
Outdoor venues
didi rugby classes are already back up and running in most franchise areas across the UK with safe and socially-distanced classes proving a huge success at outdoor venues.
didi cricket pilot schemes were successfully launched in the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire areas before the pandemic and will now be rolled out in at least six other areas across the UK from next month onwards.
The didi sports offering will be specifically aimed at educational settings for the time being.
Read more: Book your child on for a free taster session at any of our venues across the UK
Watch: didi cricket classes in January saw the first expansion of the didi rugby offering