A WATERSPORTS festival at a school for youngsters with special needs is in full swing this week.

Splash 2012 at the Wyvern School in Weymouth is aiming to give pupils the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean.

Festival co-ordinator Ann Piggott said the event has included everything from sailing to singing.

She said: “We’ve met a lot of different people through this event, and had some fantastic support.

“It’s great because it’s made the wider community more aware of our pupils.”

Assistant headteacher Richard Holt said the festival had also challenged and engaged the students.

He said: “It’s too easy for people to look at our more complex students and say they won’t be able to go sailing or windsurfing – this whole event has been an exercise in proving those people wrong.”

Mr Holt, who has been running seafood cooking sessions with the pupils, added: “We’ve had children who do not usually say a great deal raving about how much they’ve enjoyed cooking, and really becoming animated.

“As a teacher it is so rewarding to see that. The school is striving to engage children through the creative curriculum, and this is evidence that that approach is working.”

The event will be wrapped up on Thursday with a presentation afternoon attended by parents and members of the community and businesses who have been involved in the festival.

Many of the pupils said sailing was the activity they were most looking forward to.

Stephanie Benham, 15, said: “It’s been fantastic so far. I’m really excited about going sailing.”

Kira Friend, also 15, said: “Hopefully, it will be nice weather but I think it will be really fun.

“Cooking fish has been good too.”

Several students have already been out on the water.

Teaching assistant Amy Reynolds, who went with them, said: “Autistic children can’t always cope with large groups, so we took some of them out before the rest of the school.

“They really enjoyed it, and all had a go at steering.”

Sunseeker employees also spent three days making a small boat with two students, who hope to be able to launch it on the school’s swimming pool at the end of the festival.

Mrs Piggott said: “The support we’ve had from everyone in the community has been fantastic.

“The festival simply would not have been able to go ahead without them.”