PARENTS have praised a teacher who leads a dance class for kids with special needs during her spare time. 

Edyta Coulson is a teacher at George Hastwell School in Walney and leads a dance class on Tuesday evenings for 15 students with special educational needs. 

"I am so very proud of them," Edyta said. "It's very colourful, full of noise." 

The kids and carers enjoying the classThe kids and carers enjoying the class (Image: Edyta Coulson)

One of the students who attends is 11-year-old Jasper Holt. He has a tracheostomy but this is no barrier to him getting involved. 

His dad Jeff said: "He has always been a great fan of music and dancing. That's just part of who he is." 

The group was described by one of the parents as 'organised chaos' The group was described by one of the parents as 'organised chaos' (Image: Edyta Coulson) Edyta first started the classes at the Moor Tarn Lane school 'nearly three years ago' after a visitor came in playing music and showed the students some dance moves. Edyta noticed the reaction from a few of the students, and decided to make the classes a more regular feature. 

Now, they even do performances at Christmas. 

A Shakira song is a particular favourite of the groupA Shakira song is a particular favourite of the group (Image: Edyta Coulson) When Jeff first heard of the class he said he went in with 'no expectations' but was delighted by how well Jasper responded to it. 

Jasper goes in with his carer Katie. The carers also get involved in the dancing, which Jeff described as 'organised chaos.' 

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"He is absolutely flying, so happy," when he comes out of the class, Jeff said. 

The class is one of the few things that Jasper does that gives him his independence. Jeff said that before Jasper started going to the group he would be 'clingy' and always needing his parents, but the classes made a positive change to his behaviour. 

Jeff praised Edyta and the staff involved in the class: "She is so brilliant with all of the kids. Jasper is fortunate to have her." 

A favourite of the class, according to Edyta, is Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and used in the Just Dance games, which she uses as a fun way to get the students moving.